Police Constable's Zeal Annoys Bus Drivers
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N unusual cause of a threatened " strike " came to light on August 19, when bus and tram drivers, in the New Cross area of London decided that from September 1 they would not take their vehicles into a district patrolled by a particular police constable. This officer is accused of excess of zeal, in that he is said this year to , have brought 19 'summonses against drivers, most of them for not halting at stops. It is stated that men at other bus depots in the Woolwich area are also considering action. Their union has sent a letter of complaint to the Home Secretary regarding the duties of the constable concerned. It may be that the matter will be amicably settled before this article appears, but it does-indicate the feelings of the men and is, consequently, a question which requires early attention.
The main point to be considered will no doubt • be as to whether or not the constable was justified in his actions. It is a legal requirement that drivers should halt at the regular fixed points and at request stops when signalled to do so, unless the vehicles be full. We have on a number of occasions, noted an inclination on the part of certain drivers to turn a blind eye to signals when the buses were obviously not completely loaded. Another habit annoying to potential passengers is for a bus following another to swing around the one in front, belonging to another service, which has stopped. In such a case the people concerned have either to run towards the oncoming vehicle to signal, or stream before the halted bus, where there is a poor chance of being picked up. The ears of some of the drivers concerned in such manceuvres might well burn at the comments then made.
We realize the possible difficulties of keeping to schedules, but, after all, the primary purpose of a bus is to carry passengers and thus to meet the needs of the public.