Coach - driving peer
Page 33
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continued front page 23
logical stimulus of my keen interest in this project compensated for any extra strain.
On night services. I found proper sleep was essential before commencing the duty and the presence of a second d river on the long jou rneys was of real value and importance. I was able to rest while my colleague drove; this demonstrating that it is possible to be driven and at the same time rest effectively.
During excursion type services, it was possible to sleep for an hour or two during the long breaks. I would particularly comment on the benefit I found from this rest during the clay. (ii) Observers' Analysis: On certain days (for which driving averaged 265 miles) observers travelled with me. Each 15 minutes I was asked to give my subjective feeling, in terms of a score indicating alertness and tiredness. There was no decline in my score as the day progressed, and this would suggest that I was able to maintain a level of alertness which did not reflect fatigue.
Each 15 minutes my pulse rate was measured. When recordings made at the start of the journey were compared with those made towards the end, no significantdifference could be found. This would suggest that there was no increase in general stress on the body. iiii) Study of Other Drivers: Of particular interest were the observations and notes made on the activities of other coach drivers. Nearly all experienced drivers were able to sleep during the long breaks on excursion type services. The pattern of activity of coach drivers would appear to give them every opportunity to take the maximum advantage of nondriving periods and this impression was confirmed by speaking to a large number of them.
Combined control
• Maidstone and District Motor Services Ltd. 's Medway towns and Gravesend districts have been combined under the control of Mr. G. F. Farmer, formerly district superintendent Medway Towns, who has been appointed area manager, Medway Towns and Gravesend.
At the same time the other district superintendents of the company have been appointed area managers of their respective areas. They are Mr. J. T. Keohane, area manager, Hastings; Mr. F. T. Cheeseman, area manager, Maidstone; Mr. S. Senior. area manager. Sheerness. and Mr. A. S. Grist, area manager, Tunbridge Wells.