Mobile Shops and Small Vans Criticized
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VVEHICLES such as mobile shops, icecream vans, milk delivery vans and coal lorries, came under heavy criticism at the meeting of the North Eastern Accident Prevention Federation at Redcar last week. Inspector F. Bennet reported that, so far this year, no less than 18 children under the age of seven had been killed by such vehicles and 487 injured in Co. Durham. He said that a campaign was in progress in the county to deal with the problem.
Court. J. Tate, of Boldon, said: "These vehicles are in the class of baby killers. [he drivers should be compelled to have a second person with them whose duty should include making sure there are no children near the wheels as it moves away."
Mr. D. F. .1. Jordan, secretary, stated that the General Purposes Committee of the Federation had recently rejected a suggestion that the vehicles concerned should be fitted with a distinctive warning instrument to he sounded before moving off. It was felt, however, that this would not alleviate the danger because very young children would not understand the meaning of such a warning.
The matter was referred to the General Purposes Committee for "urgent consideration.