SUMMER BLITZ HITS LEEDS FIRST
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LEEDS was the area chosen for the 1-4 first of the intensive roadside checks of goods vehicles under the "summer blitz" announced recently by Mr. MarpIes; the Yorkshire city was visited by inspection teams on Wednesday and Thursday. On July 2 the Ministry had announced intensive checks in the Leeds and London areas "within the next two weeks" and followed this on July 6 and 8 with notification of Edinburgh, Norwich, Cardiff, Bristol and Manchester as targets within the next two or three weeks, writes Ashley Taylor.
As well as the intensive checks by groups of teams in chosen areas near large towns, strengthened examination teams are working in all 12 traffic areas during the4liti. period, and will be checking everything from speedometers to the security of loads.
One of the principal points chosen for the Leeds checks was in Smithfield Street, a one-way thoroughfare half a mile from the city centre, along which pass outward-bound vehicles to Halifax, Huddersfield and Manchester and inward units from the west. Operations there started at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and simultaneously at two other points within Leeds and three others on the approaches so that a fairly high percentage of traffic on the move in the district must have passed through the net. R.H.A. and T.R.T.A. representatives (and a considerable Press gallery) were present. During the first hour, 12 vehicles were checked, four of these being issued with delayed prohibitions, while in several other cases drivers were advised of items needing attention. (Units pulled off the road for inspection are almost always those which appear to be below the general standard anyway.) At Smithfield Street five inspectors were kept busy, and were due to be in action from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday.
The first unit examined was a C-licensed vehicle, which was soon on its way, carrying a windscreen sticker to show that it had been checked. Only minor defects were revealed. The fifth and sixth to come in were furniture vans from South Wales, one of which received a G.V.9 arising from a fuel tank leak.
A brick lorry suffered from, among other things, considerable play in the steering; a delayed prohibition was issued. The driver, who said he had considerable experience in industry and previously had been driving in the Royal Engineers. commented that his grouse was that his boss sat behind the wheel of a vast sports car but never troubled about the trucks. He said anyone who took out a vehicle in the same condition in the arrm, would quickly be on a charge. It did not suit him to drive the kind of vehicle he was now handling.
A number of defects were pointed out to various drivers in a helpful way. In some of the cases it was quite surprising that such items had not received attention at the operator's garage. In certain cases the appropfiate licences were not properly displayed and in one an incorrect Road Traffic Act licence was being carried.
News goes round quickly by the drivers' bush telegraph and before long some of the inspection team were clearly suspecting that a certain amount of goods traffic must be by-passing the checkpoint.
Meanwhile, Nottingham was chosen for one of the East Midland area's own series of checks on Tuesday and Wednesday, and some 15 examiners inspected vehicles on the Ring Road. Handbrakes were tested with an efficiency meter and, as a result, one thee-week-old vehicle was among 23 Mrries issued with immediate prohibitions on the first day.
BUCHANAN AND AFTER'
I N a new demand for action by the Government and local authorities on the Buchanan Report, the British Road Federation has appealed to the Government: Be honest. Say in clear language just what is required for civilized urban living and whether you intend to provide it."
The appeal is one of six points for action listed in a snecial summary of the Buchanan Report. "Buchanan and After ". published last week.