'Virtually Useless' Records
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TW0 Bow firms and two drivers were fined at Thames Magistrates' Court last week—the firms for permitting each driver to drive for more than the permitted hours and for failing to cause current records to be kept.
Quick Wrap Tubing Co. Ltd., of Jute Mills, Bow, appeared on a total of eight summonses and their driver, Brian O'Shaughnessy, of Poplar, appeared on eight summonses.
Lewis Brooks and Co. (Jute) Ltd., also of Jute Mills, Bow, appeared on 15 summonses, as did their driver, Arthur J. Scott, of Bethnal Green.
Each firm was fined 45 on each summons, with 16 16s. costs, and each driver was fined 20s. on each summons.
For all four defendants, Mr. J. B. Weir pleaded guilty to all summonses. He said that there was no question of any sinister intention by the companies to concoct the records to mislead the traffic examiner or anyone else. The companies were closely associated and for some 30 years had been a reputable concern with no previous convictions. On these matters being brought to their notice they immediately introduced a fresh system of records. Both drivers had since left the firm, but he had been instructed by the firm to appear for them. Mr. Weir said he understood that the firm would pay their fines.
Prosecuting counsel, Miss Suzanne Norwood, said that a traffic examiner called at the firm and asked to see the records for one vehicle. As this showed omissions and discrepancies, he asked to see the records of another vehicle and found this was also deficient, The records were "virtually useless" and it was impossible to tell what journeys had been made or what had been carried.
Imposing the fines, the magistrate, Mr. Donaldson Loudoun, said: "The Regulations are designed to protect the general public against drivers who are too tired to attend to their duties properly."
Seddon 178 Orders : Orders totalling more than £750,000 for trucks fitted with the new Perkins V8 diesel engine were taken at the Scottish Motor Show by Seddon Diesel Vehicles Ltd.