"Bring Back H.G.V. Licence : Men Should Pay Own Fines
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THE heavy goods vehicle driver's licence should be re-introduced. I This is one of the points which a conference of national organizations have submitted to the Minister of Transport for consideration by the Committee of Road Safety.
It is also proposed that strong deterrents be enforced against agreernents by employers or trade unions providing for the payment of drivers' fines for road offences. The rules of the Transport and General Workers' Union already provide against this contingency.
The conference recommend that transport operators should inquire into their methods of driver-selection and discourage hitch-hiking on their vehicles. Footpaths and cycle tracks should be laid along busy arterial roads, and more lay-bys for buses and other vehicles should be provided. Road-safety publicity might be carried in public vehicles.
The whole question of the speed limit should be reviewed, it is stated, and there should be further consideration of the Construction and Use Regulations. An angle of light for headlamps should be prescribed, and near-side mirrors should be fitted to all buses and goods vehicles on which the driver has poor vision to this quarter.
An approach should be made to the motor trade and insurance interests to explore the possibility of instituting standard tests and certificates regarding brakes, steering and the focusing of lights, say the conference. Consideration should be given to introducing medical tests for drivers. Lights should be used when climatic or other conditions make this desirable, even though it might be outside lighting-up time.
Guidance should be given in the new Highway Code on the significance of white lines, correct procedure at roundabouts, dipping of headlamps and the need for prompt cancellation of traffic-direction indicators. Education should be directed towards bringing out the danger created if a vehicle attempts to overtake another which has stopped at a pedestrian crossing.
The possibilities of setting up a seat in traffic engineering at one of the Universities should be investigated, it is proposed. Police accident forms should be improved in respect of the report on road conditions. The roadsafety campaign should be continued as at present.