More Examiners : 'Ban on Loading Delayed
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THE complement of full-time: traffic examiners for enforcement duties is 100, of whom 95 are in post. In addition, 17 driving and traffic examiners are now engaged on enforcement work. This number will be increased to 50 as soon as possible.
Mr. G. R. H. Nugent, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of 1 ransport, gave this information to Mr. Ernest Davies in the House of Commons last week.
Mr. Davies also asked whether any conclusion had been reached by the London and 'Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee from a study of traffic conditions at sites where a prohibition on loading and unloading had been postponed until experience was gained of the extension of the hours during which a no-waiting ban was in operation.
Mr. Nugent replied that the committee had not yet completed their study at the 23 sites concerned. Practical trials might be necessary, and advice might be given during the next few weeks.
The position so far as loading and unloading were concerned, said Mr. Davies, had not improved, although it was 12 months since the hours of "no waiting in central London • were extended to 8.30 am. Would there he steps to increase the ban on loading and unloading? .
Mr. Nugent agreed that the matter should be pursued, but action had not been taken in the absence of information to justify it.
"TAX VEHICLES BY SIZE"
A SUGGESTION made by Mr. Harold t-1. Wilson in the House of Commons, last week, that vehicles should be taxed according to the amount of road space they occupied, was noted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. Wilson thought that there was a strong case for his proposal. Bigger vehicles would pay a heavier taX than small types.
Mr. Ernest Davies, referring to the likely future increase in vehicle registrations, asked whether the Chancellor thought the amounts being spent on the roads were " pitifully small."
• The Chancellor replied that this year's spending was greater than last year's, but he would not care to estimate future expen diture.
BRAKES FAIL: 02 FINE \WAKEFIELD magistrates last week W fined British Road Services a total of £12 for dangerous brakes and mudguards on a lorry which had been involved in a collision with a bus in Wakefield. A summons for defective steering was dismissed and the driver, William Bradshaw, was given an absolute discharge on payment of 8s. costs.
A Ministry of Transport official toldthe magistrates that the maintenance of the lorry, which was being collected from Bingley and taken to Sheffield depot, left much to be desired.