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The Persecution of Drivers

29th March 1935, Page 111
29th March 1935
Page 111
Page 111, 29th March 1935 — The Persecution of Drivers
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

More Views on a Subject of Vital Importance to the Industry

MISREPRESENTATION OF FACTS.

IWOULD like to point out to your correspondent, " Mobile," that his pious attitude in respect ot speeding, whilst all right in theory, is impracticable to many commercial drivers, who prefer the probable loss of a fortnight's wages to the loss of their employment through failing to complete a job on time.

Judging by the number of drivers who are daily victimized, I should imagine that no member of the mobile police has yet stood in any danger of losing his job through lack of cases. As " Mobile " points out, no reasonable driver objects to being reported for a genuine case, but sometimes much bitterness is caused through the misrepresentation of facts. The "glaring example" of the 7-ton lorry may have been similarly overstated.

The modern power-braked lorry is quite capable ot travelling safely at, speeds in excess of 30 m.p.h. on a well-surfaced, 18-ft. road, and many Class A roads come under this category. It would take much more than an ordinary jolt to displace, properly loaded carboys, but anyone can imagine the effect upon non-technical magistrates of clever insinuations as to possible dangers which May not actually have existed in this case.

Finally, I think that if the mobile police prosecute the campaign against the private motorist in regard to the new speed limit with half the intensity which they have adopted towards commercial drivers, the daily papers will be blazing before they leave the printing

presses. A. B. CAMPBELL. Chelford.

COMMENDABLE WORK OF THE MOBILE POLICE.

THE letter signed " Mobile," which you published in your issue of March 29, is sufficiently interesting to be worthy of comment, for as a police officer his remarks have the backing , of experience and I, as a transport engineer, claim the same qualification in justification of my remarks.

The points raised by him regarding the flagrant disregard of the lawful carrying capacities of the lighter type of commercial vehicle are timely and extremely well founded, as also is his description of defective brakes, etc. The enforcing of the laws regarding these points is, however, left very much to chance, and is therefore singularly ineffective, especially, as he will no doubt agree, in view of the fact that many of the really bad accide■ts are attributable to lack of control.

His advice at the bottom of the letter is in the main sound, but I am forced to point out that his remarks regarding a civil tongue are not so much advice as a warning. I submit that if the driving of any vehicle is such that an officer thinks it his duty to stop that vehicle, it is his duty to report the matter, and not to administer a warning. I have yet to learn that the honest denial of an offence is punishable in law.

The logical conclusion is that a warning can easily be turned into a conviction, with the officer concerned constituting himself the judge. . Then, again, the socalled `` slinking in back lanes" for the purpose ot trapping drivers seems to meet with his approval, but I would point out that this method is not in accord with the much-vaunted principles of British justice. As I understand it, the main duty of our police is the prevention of crime, and it seems obvious that these officers could do this more effectively by patrolling the roads openly.

Finally, I think that the present laws governing our road transport leave much to be desired, and the methods used to enforce them are 'very -crude. On the whole, I believe that the average mobile officer is a fair . and _decently minded citizen,, with a job which he is doing to the best of his ability, but :there are time when I am bound. to conclude that his best is not good W. H. WALL.

enough.' " Cardiff.

PETTY CASES WHICH IRRITATE DRIVERS.

WE have, at the time of writing, a" Notice of Fine" lying on the desk for an "Offence " which we . think that even your correspondent " Mobile " will consider a very good reason for haulage-people's

minds going " one-traelt." • " • • One . of our drivers, having had trouble with his trailer rear lamp, which, incidentally, proved to be somewhere in the wiring on the dash-board of the lorry and Which, he ascertained on inquiry at a garage, would ' have taken at least four hours to put right, fixed up a • temporary arrangement by using a cycle lamp which he usually carries about with him in lieu of a torch. This lamp was reddened on the glass and was to all intents and "purposes quite efficient, but a police officer accosted him and after taking particulars simply walked off, not saying whether he intended to take any further action in the matter. After this he received a summons and wrote fully explaining the matter, but he has been fined, apparently because the lamp did not 'reflect on to the number plate. . . .

" Mobile " says that he wishes to clear up the point about cases which some haulage people believe are virtually forced on to the mobile police, and it appears to us that there is very little need for this with some of the." cases " they bring up on their own.. .

Our advice to " Mobile " is: Even, if the law be on your side every time, try to see the other fellow's point of view. "Keep a civil tongue in your head," remembering that, although you are there to keep law and order, you are, after all, a public servant and not a dictator. Furthermore, do not forget that although you have the whip hand it sometimes behoves you not to use the whip, as instead of doing good it is such silly cases as that mentioned which create the one-track mind, as most drivers are really good men and not the least bit prejudiced. •

In this particular instance, having regard to the hours Regulations, also to the fact that the lorry was booked to load at a certain time, the driver thought that he was doing the best for everyone concerned and that no harm would come of it. He actually said, after learning of the fine, that he would have been .better oft had he pleaded that he knew nothing" about the light going out, as in that case he might have been let ott, so you see what these sort of cases do to the driver's outlook. B. W. MILLICHAMP.

Belton. For Millichamp Bros.

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Locations: Cardiff

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