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L.A.s CONCERNED AT BAD MAINTENANCE

2nd August 1963, Page 15
2nd August 1963
Page 15
Page 15, 2nd August 1963 — L.A.s CONCERNED AT BAD MAINTENANCE
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

OW standards of maintenance evident on many goods vehicles were strongly 1–■ criticized in the Annual Reports of the Licensing Authorities for 1961-62, which were issued today. The reports can be obtained from H.M. Stationery Office, price 5s. 6d. A general impression throughout the reports is that the L.A.s wish they could devote more enforcement staff to both these matters and those relating to hours of work.

Non attendance of applicants at traffic courts, or last-minute withdrawals with no prior notice, figure in many of the reports. It is obvious that the Authorities are unhappy about the amount of time wasted and expense incurred, and also about their general inability to use effective counter measures.

A further general impression from the reports is that there was a pattern (not followed in every area) whereby there were fewer applications for new A and B licences; many C licences taken out at the time of the Suez crisis and which expired during the year, were not renewed.

In the Northern area A-licence applications slightly increased, as did Contract A switches to ordinary licences, but applications for new contract licences decreased. A number of haulage businesses changed hands in secret, said the L.A. (Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon), by the mere transfer of shares in limited liability companies without notifying the L.A. Some such companies had passed from hand to hand in such a way as to amount to trading in licences.

The number of summonses and convictions related to hours' and records' offences showed a considerable increase on the previous year. Fewer vehicles were examined, because of the many calls on examiners' time, but the proportion of prohibition notices increased. Although there appeared to be a marked reduction in black smoke, many vehicles could be greatly improved.

SILENT CHECKS Major F. S. Eastwood. the Yorkshire L.A.. emphasized his concern at the number of hours and records offences, which were much the same as in previous years. Silent checks, followed by inspections of records, brought many of these offences to light. As in the Northern area. fewer vehicles were examined during roadside checks, but in Yorkshire more prohibition notices were issued than during the previous year. The general standard of maintenance still fell considerably short of requirements. More than 37 per cent of vehicles examined were unfit or likely to become unfit.

Major Eastwood drew attention to the fact that he was now threatening to refuse applications where non-attendance or late withdrawal by the applicant caused inconvenience. There was a decrease in the number of notifiable applications for licences compared with the previous year, attributable, in the main, to a drop in B-licence renewals. There was increasing use of personnel carriers and dual-purpose vehicles for the carriage of goods.

In the North Western area, again the number of notifiable applications dropped compared with the previous year— in this case from 5,762 to 5,120. Applications for C licences also decreased. In this area there was an increase in the number of vehicle inspections. Here, 53 per cent of all vehicles inspected were

issued with prohibition notices. The

standard of maintenance of goods vehicles is still too low ", comments • the I..A., General A. F. J. Elmslic. He also referred to late withdrawals and failure to attend hearings.

This same problem concerned Mr. John Else, the West Midland authority. " I am continuing my efforts to eliminate the wastage of time at inquiries due to belated requests for adjournments by refusing the same, save in exceptional circumstances," he said. In this area, too, there was an overall drop in the number of licence applications and variat1ons. Fewer vehicle examinations were carried out during the year, but the total number of prohibitions substantially increased. Many of these were for black smoke. however, and if this condition were considered apart the percentage would have been the lowest for the past five years, except in 1961 which, said the L.A.. was an exceptional year. Maintenance had shown a slight improvement in the area. hut still left much to be desired.

ACTION AGAINST DRIVERS

Hours and records offences ran at a very high level. There was a strong suspicion that many employers closed their eyes to drivers' misdeeds. Stronger action should be taken against offending drivers, said Mr. Else, who also expressed his concern at the varying views of magistrates on the gravity of such offences.

"The standard of maintenance continues to leave much to be desired ", said tile Fast Midland L.A., Mr. C. R. Hodgson. One in every three vehicles examined received a prohibition notice. "I conclude that far too many operators are not paying sufficient attention to the requirements of the Acts and Regulations and to the conditions attached to their licences ", he said. In this area the number of A-licence applications increased due to many renewals; there was, in fact, a slight decrease of new licences.

The Eastern L.A., Mr. W. P. S. Ormond, had more to say about maintenance than any of his colleagues. His conclusion was that the standard had deteriorated slightly during the year, which might have been due to higher speeds and heavier payloads. The number of inspections carried out, unfortunately, dropped, but the number of prohibitions increased_ There were a

very large number of prohibitions in respect of black smoke., Special brakeefficiency checks were held on trunk roads and, revealed a low standard, 40 per cent of the vehicles checked receivine prohibition notices. The main reasons for this "dangerous state of affairs" were overloading and the use of vehicles 24 hours a day, with no maintenance.

There was some decrease in the numbe: of hours and records prosecutions.

FRIVOLOUS ATTITUDE

What he describes as the " frivolousattitude of some applicants" is mentioned by Mr. Ronald Jackson, the South Wales LA.. in complaining of the -number of unnotified non-attendances at courts and late withdrawals. There had been no dramatic change in.the standard of maintenance. but the small operator with one or two vehicles still caused some concern, It was unlikely there would be an improvement without more examiners.

The Western L.A., Mr. S. W. Nelson. reported a slight fall in the number of Aand B-licence applications and about 4.000 ('-licensed holders did not renew, having taken out their licences at the time of the Suez crisis. No A licences were granted to newcomers.

An overall drop in licence applications was also reported by the South Eastern L.A., Mr. H. J. Thom. although 13-licenec applications increased by 20 per cent. There was an increasing tendency for licensees and drivers to ignore their statutory obligations. The number of vehicles insoected showed an alarming drop and 48 per cent were found to he defective. The rising number of prehihiFons required urgent action. '

Mr. D. I. R. Muir, the Metropolitan LA., was very concerned about the standard of maintenance and warned that operators must anpreciate the close links

between maintenance and licences. In the new year, he hoped to have reports on the maintenance standard of Alicensed vehicles when considering renewal applications; this would be exten ded to other classes of licence. Very nearly half the vehicles tested were found to be defective. Bad record keeping still persisted and had to be given close attention. Mr. Muir was also alarmed at the growing use of personnel carriers for haulage work. He could see no remedy but legislation.

In Scotland there was a droo in all types of licence application and the L.A.. Mr. W. F. Quin. thought operators were now appreciating that contract grants were not necessarily easy stepping stones to a full licence. The general standard of maintenance • in the area could be improved, particularly among lighter vehicles, but there was a growing awareness among operators that vehicle maintenance was sound business economics.


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