New vehicle responsibility of deliverer
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• The Justiciary Appeal Court in Scotland last week rejected an appeal brought by James Car Deliveries Ltd, of Birniehill Depot, Bathgate, against conviction and fine of £20 on a charge of having permitted a tractive unit to be on the Glasgow—Carlisle road while the steering was defective. In the Sheriff Court action it was indicated that the vehicle was being delivered to London and was involved in an accident because of a defect in the steering. For the appellants it was argued that not being owners of the vehicle they could not cause it to be used as alleged in the charge. Responsibility should lie with British Leyland, the makers, or the new owners. The three appeal judges refused to accept this argument and upheld the finding of the local Sheriff. The effect of the ruling is that responsibility for vehicles in the course of delivery lies with the delivery firm contracted to deliver the vehicle and not with the manufacturers.