More Examiners, and Annual Tests and Plating to be Speeded
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FROM OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
THE Minister of Transport, Mr. T.
Fraser, is to take up the campaign against unsafe commercial road vehicles where Mr. Marples left off. He has authorized the number of Ministry examiners to be increased to 240 to engage in more spot checks, and he asked for work on an annual inspection scheme —and on plating—to go ahead with all speed. Mr. Fraser is also likely to start a new road safety drive, with the appointment of a road safety council as a high priority.
The new Minister is firmly committed to Labour's policy of shifting part of the traffic load from road to rail, but at this stage he does not intend to interfere with the broad outlines of the major roadbuilding plan.
There is much speculation that be will appoint a Beeching-style boss to overlord all road and rail developments. One task of this supremo would be to try to cut down congestion in city streets. However, all these developments were either well advanced or in blue print form when Mr. Fraser took over. Labour is not prepared to show its hand on transport changes for some time yet.