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Is Ignorance Bliss?

26th July 1957, Page 34
26th July 1957
Page 34
Page 34, 26th July 1957 — Is Ignorance Bliss?
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DRIVERS competing in the eliminating contests of the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition have generally interpreted the wording of the supplementary regulations to imply that, although the time taken for the tests is secondary to manceuvring skill, speed is a factor in determining the marks awarded in every case.

In the regulations issued by the Coventry committee it was stated categorically that "times taken in tests will only be used as tie deciders." The instructions printed on the same form, however, gave penalties in terms of seconds per touch or error compared with the worst correct performance. Similar wording was used in the general instructions and test details given to the drivers in the Birmingham contest.

In the latter, the value of speed was, contrary to the implied intention, given impetus by a warning that "in all cases the penalty for incorrect performance of a test is greater than would have been incurred if the test had been performed correctly but slower." This applies to the national regulations, which state that ". .. the fastest driver will not necessarily be the winner."

Many of the marshals in charge of tests have shown ignorance of the value of the time element, and some committee members have indicated a belief that the time taken can influence the marks awarded. In practice, the possibility of a tie in the final total of marks awarded is so remote that no intelligent driver would consider speed as important in individual tests if he understood the regulations. It is doubtful whether more than a negligible minority of drivers has grasped the import of the relevant paragraphs, and such ignorance is the responsibility of the national and local committees.

Whilst an emphasis on speed may be deplored, the necessity of completing the tests without hesitation in a reasonable time is a challenge to drivers, the absence of which would deflate the enthusiasm of the majority and could prolong the overall time for contests beyond an acceptable limit. The paradox now exists that the most stimulating element of the contests is derived from a misconception on the part of drivers.

Because clarification could destroy the enthusiasm of both drivers and onlookers, a change in the regulations is necessary to give practical value to confident progress rather than speed, by, for example, stipulating a maximum test time, based on the results of previous tests, with penalties for exceeding the maximum.

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Organisations: Coventry committee
Locations: Birmingham

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