Drivers' Competition Much Improved
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THIS year's Lorry Driver of the Year .1 Competition is likely to be a great improvement on those held in the past. The rules have been carefully overhauled by the new national organizing committee, which is representative of operators, drivers and safety-first organizations, with The Commercial Motor and Motor Transport as technical advisors, The organizing committee is composed or representatives of the accident prevention councils of Coventry, Leeds, Oxford. Portsmouth and Slough; British Transport Commission; Institute of Traffic Administration; . Ministry of Works; Road Haulage Association; Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents; Traders' . Road Transport Association; and Transport and General Workers' Union.
Vehicles Reclassified Fite inost important change is in the classification of vehicles. This year, all vehicles will be graded .according to length, apart from articulated vehicles. The separate class for eight-wheelers has been eliminated. It is hoped that this change will make for greater irness.
The classes are as follows: A, up to 15 ft. overall length; B, over 15 ft. and up to 19 ft.; C, over 19 ft. and up to 22 ft; D, over 22 ft. and up to 25 ft.; E. over 25 ft.; F, articulated vehicles (handicap marks will be imposed 0E1 .Seaturnell mechanical horses, because .of their exceptional ,manceuvrability); 0. Queen Mary vehicles.
Each driver must sign a declaration of freedom from blameworthy accident daring the 12 months preceding the eliminating round or final contest. A new provision is that a driver who knowingly and wilfully signs a false declaration may, at the committee's discretion, be debarred for life from entering the competition. The -owner. of the vehicle must endorse the declaration to the effect that to the best of his knowledge and belief the statement is true.
Severe Marking As before, the contest Will consist of three parts—road section, Highway Code and manceuvring tests. The marking will be severe.
in the road section, 20 marks out of a possible 100 will be lost for each breach of the Highway Code or for poor driving technique, such as slovenly posture.
fen marks will be awarded for each of 10 questions on the Highway Code. This year questions will be set byleeds Accident Prevention Council and will he handed to the organizers on the day of the competition.
Two matiteuvring tests will be prescribed by the central committee and will be used at all the eliminating centres —Coventry, Leeds, Oxford, Portsmouth and Slough. They will' be published before the first eliminating rcinnd is held—at Coventry on July 1— so that competitors in all eliminating contests have an equal chance of practising beforehand. Local organizers may de%,ise tests in addition to the two compulsory exercises.
If a competitor fails to complete the test in accordance with the instructions, or touches arty post, pylon or kerb, he will be disqualified from that test.
Special attention is being paid this year to maintenance, and all eliminating .centres are being encouraged to hold optional competitions for the bestmaintained vehicle.
The first three drivers in each class will be invited to compete in the final. If the entry in any group is low, one finalist will be chosen for each 10 entries in the group, up to a maximum of three. The rnanceuvring tests in the final will be different front those in the eliminating contests.
Another new provision is for class champions, each of whom will receive an award. The driver scoring the highest marks in the competition will gain the title, ” Lorry Driver of the Year." A special award will be given to the best Service driver. It will be impossible for a Serviceman to earn the title, " Lorry Driver of the Year."
These alterations have been made to meet the criticisms of operators and drivers, notably employees of British Road Services.
The Commercial Motor will award Diplomas of Merit to all competitors in the final contest who gain 75 per cent. or more of the possible marks. A similar presentation is being made to competitors in the Scottish event.