vloves to curtail caravans
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CM reporter TH the haulage industry and Government this week bemoves which could lead restrictions on the movent of caravans on British Lds.
vlany hauliers believe that s summer has seen the worst ays attributed to caravans :. One haulier tdld CM that ays caused by inexperienced • drivers with caravans could three or four hours to the ving time of a truck travelg between the Midlands and North of Scotland.
The Road Haulage Associan's highways and traffic committee has decided to write to the Minister for Transport to urge him to introduce a special driving test for motorists towing caravans. The committee has also suggested that a higher vehicle licence duty should be paid for cars whic'h tow caravans.
This week the Welsh office is studying replies to a circular letter it sent to Welsh local authorities concerning the matter. The letter said that the office was "very concerned" about the ever increasing peak holiday time delays caused to essential traffic by caravans. The Secretary of State for Wales has indicated that something should be done "as soon as possible" about the problem. Suggested measures could include banning caravans from certain routes altogether, imposing tolls on certain roads or restricting access during peak hours.
Areas suggested for early action are Snowdonia, South Wales and the Gower Peninsula. Strong opposition to any such moves have already been expressed by tourist associations, the Caravan Club and farmers Who run caravan sites. Mr G. E. Teller, chairman of the RHA highways and traffic committee, told CM that it was unjust for operators of light vans to have to pay high road tax while car and caravan combinations occupied far more road space and paid much less.
His company, T and S Transport Ltd, of Edinburgh, faced considerable delays during the summer on runs along A9 between Perth and Inverness. His drivers frequently complained of the bad road behaviour of caravan drivers which often made overtaking impossible.