Award-winner presents safety awards
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A WARDS gained by drivers and conductors of
the Devon General Omnibus and Touring Co. Ltd. in the competition organized by the Road Operators' Safety Council were presented last Friday at Newton Abbot. And the man who presented them was Newton Abbot Urban District Council chairman Councillor W. G. Willis, one of the company's drivers—who himself gained an award for 22 years' driving without a blameworthy accident.
In 1965, the year covered by the awards, 94.7 per cent of drivers entered were successful and 95.5 per cent of conductors. Highest awards gained were by three drivers who received Emblems to the 35 years' Cross, representing 39 years free from a blameworthy accident.
Mr. T. L. C. Strange, general manager of the company, said: "The Minister of Transport rightly stresses the need for providing attractive public transport as an alternative to personal transport. There are some, however, who argue that there must be improved public transport before restriction is placed on other road users. I fail to see any merit in this argument as the bus can only operate according to the conditions provided for it. There is no point in putting on a limited-stop service if the vehicles are to be held up in traffic congestion, and the time advantage lost.
"It behoves every local authority to make the best possible use of existing road space for movement as the money needed for all the numerous road schemes required will be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain."