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Page 24
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No, I don't condone unsafe practice
THE CRITICISM of my comments on BBC's Going Places contained in your Editorial of August 24 does not correspond with the facts — and the timing unfortunately coincided with my going on holiday, preventing earlier reply.
Mr Sherriff seems to think that I was advocating an unsafe practice in accepting an interpretation of the law allowing linking of regular services. Among other things this brought them within the British rather than the EEC drivers' hours law.
I said, twice, that this is safe. The British law, but not the EEC law, is based on safety considerations and personal investigation of this subject for over 17 years leaves me in no doubt on the point. Safety is not involved.
The broadcast tape was, of course, edited and did not fully bring out the interviewer's repeated criticism of using a "loophole". In this respect all I did was to explain the legal position, namely that where the law is obscure any reasonable interpretation is valid until the courts give a definitive ruling.
I added that if the legislators who prepared such a loosely worded law did not like the position, it was up to them to introduce a law which reflected their true intentions. That was all statement of fact. It was also fact when I said the interpretation complained of was agreed by the British Government and is adopted by operators in other EEC countries, where they follow the spirit rather than the letter of the law.
For these reasons I object to the suggestion that I "condone ... an unsafe, irresponsible practice" contrary "to the spirit of the law" and I trust that you will put the record straight. DENIS QUIN Director-General Bus and Coach Council Lincoln's Inn Fields London WC2
The curious wheel of progress .. .
COULD solid tyres make a comeback? Ridiculous! Or is it? We are well aware of the disadvantages, but first let us think of the advantages.
With any pressurised interior, there could be no blow-outs; so no accidents from that cause. Also no punctures — a boon indeed. Add to this much longer life and better durability owing to their stiff construction.
I would think also that the less flexing involved would make vehicle handling characteristics easier to predict at the design stage.
Now for the disadvantages such as harsh ride and poor skid resistance. I think that with modern materials — and who says that material has to be rubber? — this should not be an insuperable problem. Perhaps the harsh ride aspect could be eliminated with the development of a sprung wheel, bringing with it the advantages of lower unsprung weight.
While unable to see into the future, as a tyre specialist possible developments arouse my curiosity. Who knows what the major tyre manufacturers are up to right now?
A. G. McHARG McHarg, Paterson and Company Glasgow