BCC in television row
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A FURIOUS row has broken out between the Bus and Coach Omncil and Channel Four Television, following a one-hour programme on coach safety last week.
The programme, Catching the Coach, portrayed the coach industry, and the BCC in particular, Is obstructing the introduction of safety measures, and closed by suggesting that the low price of coach travel was being used to delay progress in safety.
In particular, the BCC is angry about the way an interview with its director-general, Denis Quits, %V s televised.
Quin's dismissal of speed limiters as inferior to tachographs was set against a Lucas Kienzle service engineer's demonstration of how a tachograph needle can be bent to record a slower speed.
His dismissal of anti-lock braking as untried was followed by Lucas Girling's Nigel Pugh saying the equipment has been available since 1969 and does not suffer from alleged problems like CB radio interference. Quin commented that existing roof strength tests were adequate and that statements that this did not allow for roll-over accidents were irrevelant as no two accidents were the Sallie. MS was Set against Hestair Duple joint managing director Barrie Mealing's statement that only roll-over strength requirements arc relevant.
And Quin also was shown saying he was "ahead of scientistsin proposing a plastic shield in front of passengers as a more effective alternative to seat belts, anchorages for which are difficult to fit. This point also appeared to be dismissed by Mealing.
BCC public affairs director Barry I loye said this week that Channel Four had set Quin up as an Aunt Sally and then knocked him down.
As we closed for press on Tuesday, it was preparing a line-by-line detailed complaint which would be sent to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission before Christmas.
Already, a brief formal complaint has been sent to Channel Four and at least one coach operator is known to have used the station's selfrecorded "soap box" facility to make a personal complaint on the air.
Hoye said the BCC agreed to co-operate with the progrannie makers after being told that they would put in yth s about coaches into perspective, and gave many hours of its time in assisting with the making of the programme.
"[he National Bus Company also made extensive facilities available, and incurred overtime payments and disruption into the bargain.
He said the manufacturers quoted in the programme are unhappy about the way their contributions were used.
• Transport Minister Lynda Chalker has ruled out the inclusion of motorway driving in the public service vehicle test for coach drivers.
She told Tory MP Richard Holt that she was reviewing the content and duration of the PSV test.