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tends to say a lot about the importance of the driver an"ambassador of goodwill ". An experience I Tuesday proves it. Driving a colleague to a hospital patients' department of which is in a narrow side was perplexed to see private cars backing out of this oad into the heavily-trafficked main road. I drove t and found the cause.
he nearside were occupied parking meter spaces. :tely blacking the rest of the road was a 5-ton van, exactly opposite the point at which he wanted to A few yards (literally) behind was a long loading etween the meters. But this lout was willing to block road rather than walk a few yards across the road.
■ robably did more harm to the industry's image in lutes than could be erased in a month.
king Goes
autumn comes the season of seaside illuminations, sphere in which Blackpool excels. This is a time the hundreds of visiting coach drivers and their ;ers encounter many strange sights, not least of them roducts of Blackpool Transport Department which, with light, gaily ride the promenade. They include Vlississippi Paddle Steamer ", "The Rocket Ship ", Nestern Train" and "The Hovertram ".
d on a single-deck railcar chassis, the Hovertram :n designed and built during the past six months by rporation transport department. Illumination by ,000 electric bulbs; white with yellow and red flash
ings, is used to provide a spectacular finish, The basic lines of the Hovercraft have been adapted for the Hovertram but, since the normal propellers would have presented operating difficulties, new features in the shape of " twin jet units", which are seen on the roof, have been introduced. In replanning the vehicle certain design characteristics of a low-bridge double-decker . bus have been incorporated. The Hovertram is 50 ft. in length and accommodates 99 passengers. There are 42 seats on the top clek where panoramic windows give excellent views.
U.S. Highway Study
A NEWS release from Washington which interested me " was to the effect that spending on state " highways " will soon soar to a record level due to the heavy punishment being inflicted on them by big trucks ". There has recently been a new study on this matter by the American Association of State Highway Officials. The Association, it seems, under pressure from " truckers ", is considering easing lorry weight, height and length limits adopted in 1946.
In recent months, it is reported, there has been legislation in 15 states to raise lorry weight limits to or near a maximum allowed Under the Federal taw that provides interstate highway money. The study, incidentally, cost $27 m.!
Tyre Economy ?
A CCORDING to a report I've received nine out of every 1-1. 10 tyre failures are caused by "false economy "I The report, prepared by the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co., states that approximately 90 per cent of all tyre troubles (including punctures and bursts) occur in tyres that have been run until as little as one tenth or less of usable tread remains.
Be this false economy—or just sheer laziness—to me it borders on the criminal in view of the possible consequences of a tyre burst at speed.