A Case for Co-operation A PROBLEM, of growing intensity has
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been the feeling of resentment by householders against the commercial vehicle which parks. all night outside a private house. For many years now there has been no answer to this problem in large towns. The resentment of householders has grown and in some instances has led. to organizations being formed to oppose the establishment of suitable catering and accommodation facilities for commercial vehicle drivers. In certain parts of London this problem has become really acute.
Another facet of, this matter is the question of pilfering and stealing of-loads and, of course, the thieves are aided and abetted by a loaded vehicle left in a quiet residential street unattended. ,The losses in this connection have caused the insurers to insert clauses in their soods-in-transit policies withdrawing cover where a vehicle is left unattended within a 10-mile radius of Charing Cross.
The National Road Transport Federation, together with the R.H.A.' vehicles security .conirnittee, have provoked the interest of National Car, Parks towards this Problem and an experiment is now being carried out in London.' In North London a successful start has been 'made in taking the lorries from the streets to a car, park in Baynes Street, St. Pancras. Another lorry park has been opened at Vauxhall on the site of the old gas works and extends for approximately 7 acres, accommodating' anything up to 400 lorries. Although this park has been open for some weeks very few lorries use it,-yet each night around the Clapham Road area lorries are parked each side of the main road and also in adjoining roads. These vehicles are vulnerable to thefts, cause annoyance to local residents when they are started in the morning and must be a risk so far as road safety is concerned.
Various inducements. have been tried to get the drivers to use the lorry park in this' area, but without any noticeable success. The police have been requested to assist in this matter, but they have not shown any great willingness to co-operate.
It is essential that drivers of commercial vehicles are made to use these vehicle parks where they are available as it is only if these early parks are a success that the scheme can be extended to the benefit of all concerned. It is hoped that within the next few weeks the police will commence to gently Move the lorries towards "the vehicle park by inducement, and if that fails other steps will have to be taken. It appears there is everything to gain by the use of these lorry parks and little to lose.
London, W.C.1. G. H. MITCHELL, Joint Secretary, Road Transport Catering and Accommodation Joint Committee.
Lorry Driver Variations
HAVE had occasion to visit various of the Lorry Driver I of the Year heats. It does appear, however, that there are .variations in procedure ..-from area to area both in the tests themselves and in the method of arriving at an oVerall winner.
For example in the already difficult bay test, the bay itself is usually on level ground, whereas in the recent Southend contest the hay Was on a marked slope. Regarding results, in some cases the driver • with the least penalty points is adjudged overall winner' sometimes, however, the improvement percentage system is used.
Southend. ". SPORTSMAN."
A New Model
WITH reference to recent correspondence regarding miniature road vehicles, the enclosed photograph of a recently completed model may prove of interest.
The model, which is to the scale of in. to one foot is constructed mainly of brass, and has fully independent suspension and correct steering linkage.
London, N.14 K. WE1TON.