Six-month licence suspension
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THERE HAD clearly been negligence in the management of a family group of road haulage companies and the evidence could not be regarded as satisfactory.
This was said by the Northern Licensing Authority, Mr J. A. T. Hanlon, at Newcastle upon Tyne last week when he suspended the 0 licence of T. Laing Ltd, The Broadway, Sunderland, for six months. The LA had been considering the maintenance arrangements and three GV9 prohibitions against one of the specified vehicles.
Mr J. W. F. Maw, director and secretary, said Laing's was part of a group of three companies operating together, the others being .1. W. S. Maw I.td, authorised for eight vehicles, and J. B. Maw Ltd, with authority for 16. He and his brother each held a half share in Laing's and were responsible for all maintenance and inspections.
One of the two vehicles on the Laing licence was destroyed by fire in January and had not yet been replaced. The last GV9 was received in August and concerned a vehicle taken off the road for repair which was driven out by a driver in error and was then involved in an accident.
Questioned by the LA after giving evidence, the driver concerned, George Armstrong. of Sunderland, said he was not sure which of the three companies employed him. Mr R. W. S. Hird, for Laing's, submitted that when three small family companies were operating as one it was easy for drivers to get confused. In all the circumstances nothing more than a warning was warranted.
Mr Hanlon said that in September, 1971, Laing's were called to public inquiry concerning vehicle maintenance and the vehicle authority reduced from five to two. The company had failed to heed this warning as there had clearly been negligence on the part of the directors.
He warned Armstrong that such conduct could result in his heavy goods driving licence being put at risk.