More Beet Falling from Lorries
Page 63
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MOW that the sugar-beet season is upon us, I notice " that one of the local authorities of the Eastern Counties has given warning of the danger of fallen beet on the roads. There seems in'fact to be more spillages of all kinds from vehicles than previously. Why should this be the case? Obviously, there are more commercial vehicles, on the roads than previously, whilst the permitted speed for many vehicles has been increased, with resultant " momentum " to some types of load when rounding bends and corners.
One frequently notices fallen articles, covers billowing out beyond the width of vehicles, and trailing ropes " snaking " awkwardly in the path of passing or oncoming traffic. Apart from constituting an offence, failure by a few to afford safety to other road users is a matter which will tend to bring all commercial users into disgrace.
Whether it is ignorance or carelessness, the satiation calls for attention. The last thing I would want to do is to moralize. Respectfully, however, I would like to suggest that it would do no harm to draw drivers' attention periodically to the necessity of checking carefully load distribution, tieing-down, etc. Routine stuff, I know, but essential.
Perhaps a small notice fixed in the cab as a reminder is the best thing or, maybe, an occasional note with the wage packet. In the case of the former, it is not a bad idea to remind long-distance drivers to check "right around" their vehicles when stopping periodically.
Those who have been the cause of accidents of this kind will need no reminder. It is, however, the many who have clean records in this connection to whom I would address these brief remarks. I do not suggest that negligence is the major cause. Rather is it a combination of events, often beyond the control of the. individual unless regular journey checking and careful pre-journey loading are effected.
I have enumerated a few of the possible contributory causes. When one adds the effect of the greater width of some vehicles and their loads, the subject of secure loading and water-tight covering becomes of prime importance.
Customers do not take kindly to goods jettisoned on to the road. Particularly is this so in the case of nationally advertised proprietary goods. There is, again, the claims angle. That little bit of extra packing and regular checking may seem to some to be unnecessary, but in the long run it can pay handsome dividends.
Southend-on-Sea. TRUNKIE.
Unfair Restriction on Hire Cars
WE know of your interest in providing the greatest " possible facilities for motorists and, therefore, we would like to draw to your attention, and to that of your readers, the great disability suffered by British motorists when visiting Northern Ireland.
The chief activity of our car-rental organization is to provide motoring for British people both here and on their visits to Ireland. However, when a client of ours takes a car from Britain to Ireland or hires a car from one of our South of Ireland branches, he is under an absolute Customs restriction against entering Northern Ireland. A resident of Ireland or America is not restricted in this way.
We would ask your readers, the A.A. and R.A.C. to do all in their power to have this inequitable regulation withdrawn.
London, S.W.1. DEakto-r A. RYAN,
Ryans Car Hire, Ltd.
Not the First Time
THE short article on the carriage of flower bulbs from A Holland in your issue dated October 4, 1957, contains one or two inaccuracies.
The method described has, in fact, been used before. British Road Services moved 13 10-ton box-trailer loads of flower bulbs from Holland to Lincolnshire between August 8 and 21 last, on behalf of one of the largest concerns of bulb growers in the country, who have expressed their great satisfaction.
We hope that Mr. Maitland, and others who have not already done so, will in future find themselves able to use our service and thus avoid most of the worry and difficulties he experienced.
Incidentally, the vessel runs into Tilbury Dock and not London D6cks as stated in the article.
London, N.W.1. J. E. DAY, Traffic Supt. (Commercial) London District. British Road Services.