Lords Unhappy About 40 m.p.h.
Page 38
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A: PLEA for a very careful check of Mechanical conditions when thespeecIS of commercial vehicles are increased was Made last week by Lord Lucas of Cltilworth. "All too large a number of commercial vehicles on the roads today are so overloaded as to make them uncontrollable because of their damaged' steering and inefficient brakes,"
he Said in the Upper House. • If the speed limit of these vehicles was going to be increased to 40 m.p.h., that would automatically increase their natural overall speed, added Lord Lucas, and the Minister must take into consideration that there would have to be a rather more rigid check upon their mechanical condition.
He knew the difficulties this would involve, but such a check could be• properly carried out only on the road when the vehicle Was loaded, and not in a service station unladen. Many -vehicles that would pass a test unladen would not do so with a 7-ton load on them Oh the roads.
Lord Lucas said he would not discuss the rights and the wrongs of increasing the speed limit—but Lord Morrison of Lambeth declared "in passing" that the idea was not an entirely satisfactory one. Itthe speed was officially raised to 40 m.p.h. they would travel at 50 or 60, said Lord Morrison. I think that this Minister of Transport is really road mad. He jut wants to injure the railways. That is his primary purpose in life."
It seemed to him that there was .a prima facie case for, perhaps, being more careful and severe in tests on vehicles which had to carry heavy loads, with consequent extra stress upon the brakes, but he was a-little alarmed at the suggestion that the Minister should be urged to employ full-time inspectors over the whole field.
"We are a little in danger of becoming a nation where we are all getting a living by inspecting each other, and we had better be careful about it," warned Lord Morrison.
Lord Chesham, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of •Transport, promised to bear in mind what had been said, because he agreed it was important. But, he pointed out, this Was not the moment to discuss it, as the House was dealing with the extension of motor vehicle tests, which applied only to vehicles of up to 30-cwt. unladen weight.