Bird's Eye View— By The Hawk •
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No More Dazzle
DRIVING in blinding rain down Ml the other night, I was impressed by the effectiveness of the experimental two-mile stretch of steelmesh anti-dazzle fence which has been erected on the central reserve by the Expanded Metal Co., Ltd. A little light from oncoming vehicles sometimes penetrated the 14-in, snow gap below the fence but caused no inconvenience. As the screen is only 5 ft. 8 in. high, it may not give much protection from dazzle to drivers perched aloft in heavy vehicles, but it certainly makes a good crash barrier. A 5-tbnner estimated to have been travelling at 40-50 m.p.h. strayed on to the central reserve, but was effectively restrained from entering the opposite carriageway.
At a film show given the following day by the Expanded Metal Co., I learned that they are to erect anti-dazzle screens on the Kingston by-pass and other roads. On Ml the cost was £3,000 a mile—and it was money well spent. What about finishing the job, Mr. Marples?
Look Both Ways
I F you want to stretch the terms of your licence, don't do so outside the Licensing Authority's office. This good advice is confirmed by a Northern haulier, whom Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, Northern Licensing Authority, unfortunately found transgressing the conditions of his contract-A licence outside the Ministry of Transport offices in Newaastic. Amid laughter in court the magistrate was heard to say, "Pay £5."
R30
Paper Shortage
ALTHOUGH sheaves of paper had been produced, there Pl. were insufficient copies of one particular document when J. and A. Smith of Maddiston, Ltd., were applying to Mr. W. Quin, Scottish Licensing Authority, for additional vehicles. With a twinkle in his eye, Mr. Quin chided Mr. James Smith: You are an old hand in the traffic courts, Mr. Smith." Mr. Roderick Mackenzie, his solicitor, had the smart answer. "Documents are sometimes like vehicles—in short supply."
The Light
"A SOCIETY based on the policy of 'I'm all right, Jack,' cannot go on forever."—Mr. E. D. Sheehan, of the Transport and General Workers' Union, addressing London trolleyhus men.
Indian Enthusiast
IMPATIENT of a delay of at least three years before he could Igain a Government grant to go to Europe to study passenger transport, 33-year-old Virendia Jain, a depot manager with Madhya Bharat Roadways, Gwalior, a big Indian bus undertaking, paid for the trip himself. He allowed himself six months to study public transport in large towns in Russia and Europe, and then came on to England to spend three months P with London Transport.
He also attended the Perkins service school, because 90 per cent. of the 120 single-deck buses operating from his depot at Gwalior have Perkins engines. He hopes to return home'in April after visiting several British provincial transport undertakings, and studying transport in Frankfurt, Germany.
Surprise Packet
I WAS a trifle surprised when the representative from Leeds
suddenly proposed at a meeting of the national executive committee of the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition, last week, that unladen weight should be substituted for length in classifying vehicles. Apart from the fact that the suggestion was far too late to be considered this year, I can imagine the anomalies that would be created. There was no enthusiasm for the new system, but the committee will dutifully discuss it when next year's arrangements are planned.
Tight Fit
SOME of the miniature public service vehicles derived from small vans are built so near to the bone that even a layer of linoleum on the floor is sufficient to reduce the headroom to less than the 5 ft. 3 in. necessary to meet Certificate of Fitness requirements. Paint sprayers have also to be economical in painting the ceiling.