It Pays to Buy the Best
Page 68
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WITH the increase in insurance premiums, I have " received 'a Spate of letters from haulage contractors and P.S.V. operators who at long last seem tc realize that they are not getting value for the money spent. Transport men seem to leave insurance matters in thc hands of the vehicle dealer or a local agent and ignore the fact that in this way they have the choice of only one or two companies. *
All too often the only aim is to insure as cheaply as possible, irrespective of the fact that in the event of a claim the company concerned may quite justly refuse to pay more than a small proportion of the sum sought.
Trouble-free insurance is an essential if haulage firms are to be saved from some of the headaches which are a part of modern transport operation, and they must realize that the only way of getting this is to pay a fair premium for a fair policy with a reliable company.
Insurance is, I believe, the only profession which offers inquirers free advice from experts, without obligation, and it would pay your readers to take advantage of this fact.
Trederwen Road, London, E.8. F. G. COOK.
Holes in the Road
THE Hawk (The Commercial Motor, last week) was so right about those interminable holes in the road. Castelnau, Barnes, one of the main arteries leading into and out of London, is also being repaired in penny numbers. Our recent "hole in the road," a matter of some 160 yd. by 30 ft. of road, has taken approximately 24 weeks to complete. This follows numberless smaller excavations and another one of equal size.
This, combined with frequent interruptions on Hammersmith Bridge, has caused endless delay, a tremendous amount of re-routeing and incalculable loss to local traders. The length of this road, together with that of its continuation, Rocks Lane, leads one to despair of the time that will be taken in connecting the rebuilt thoroughfares at either end.
To the outsider, it appears to be a matter which is being dealt with by the local council, but One would have thought that it was quite definitely a national concern.
London, S.W.13. "CARRIE."
Diesel Fumes and Lung Cancer
I CAN quite understand that London Transport does not wish to prolong the correspondence on lung cancer and air pollution by diesel fumes. It is most regrettable that clean air has its opponents, as have most health advances in years gone by, such as clean food, clean water and asepsis at childbirth.
As a doctor in an industrial area with a wide experience of chest diseases, and being unbiased by any vested interests or financial gain out of any form of traction. am concerned only with .the health of the public in this matter. I therefore reiterate responsible medical opinion c32 that diesel fumes contain poisonous gases and are a higl probable cause of lung cancer. Transport authorit should take notice of balanced medical advice given good faith by responsible men and not of statements politicians reporting on uncompleted, inconclusi investigations.
I had hoped that Mr. Robbins, of London Transpo might have produced some constructive suggestions control diesel fumes, such as the fitting of catalytic flub as is now compulsory in parts of California where ti menace is regarded as dangerous to health.
Hyde, Cheshire, G.P.
Underpowered and Overloaded
WITH regard to the current controversy of the h,
climbing abilities of conversions compared w traditional "heavies," surely the point is that both the types of vehicle are sometimes underpowered, underbrake and overloaded even at their legal gross weight, and a certainly a wretched nuisance to all other road users, pi ticularly when driven nose to tail, three or four in line astei or often two abreast up the numerous hills with which o country abounds.
Both types have to work at their maximum performan in order to get along at all, and are obviously highly stress as a result, often dangerously so, judging by the nurnE of transmission failures and, more dangerous still, by t front axle, hub and tyre failures which are seen all ti often.
Chassis plating is, of course, the obvious answer, and the should also be a laid-down standard of power/weight rat acceleration, gradient ability and braking effectiveness which all constructors would obviously comply. I woe make it clear that the present faults lie not with them—th only supply what the operators require—and these uncle powered miracles of misapplied machinery are a dire result of the cut-throat manner in which road transpc operates at present and the gross stupidity of mai operators who run these types of vehicles, generally ye poorly maintained, and who complain so bitterly when the vehicles break down.
Surely there are none so blind as those who will n see.
Moseley, Birmingham. J. M. WALL.