Co-op given 'skilful drivers' warning
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SKILFUL DRIVERS are notorious for their ability to cover up minor defects and keep going, the Northern LA, Mr. John Hanlon, said in
Durham on January 4.
This was the first of a two-day sitting on Section 178 offences involving North East operators.
He was speaking at a hearing to which the Bishop Auckland (Co. Durham) Cooperative Society Ltd. was called to show reason why it should not have its C carrier's licence revoked following the issue of a series of prohibition notices on its vehicles.
Mr. Hanlon told, representatives of the Society: "You cannot leave it to drivers to report faults in their vehicles. Skilful drivers are notorious for their ability to cover up minor defects and keep going. But they are not good drivers, for the faults tend to worsen and the vehicle can become a danger to the public."
He said: "This is another case in this traffic area of a co-operative society having allowed its vehicles to reach a most unsatisfactory state, and a number of prohibition orders have been issued. But there is, however, no evidence to show that the Society has been 'responsible for any accidents as a result of the condition of the vehicles."
Earlier Mr. Harold Hewitt, for the Society, told the hearing that some of the vehicles had been recognized as being obsolete, and the garage staff had not been entirely adequate for maintenance.
He said the Society's drivers had been told to bring their vehicles in once a month for a maintenance check. but there was no system to enable the people in charge of the garage to check whether the vehicles had been brought in on time.
Mr. Hewitt said 12 old vehicles had been scrapped and five new ones bought for £5,300, cutting the fleet from 47 to 40. All the vehicles were now in perfect order, another mechanic had been taken on, and the system of maintenance checking had been improved.
But an even more radical change was planned for January 20, he said. The Society is to amalgamate with the nearby Darlington Co-operative Society, and the transport department is to be the responsibility of Darlington Co-operative Society.
Mr. Hanlon said: "This is the sort of case in which I feel some penalty should be imposed. But all of the transport organization is soon to be transferred to Darlington, and there is no reason that those responsible at Darlington will not be able to continue the work efficiently."