No Right to Stop 'Vehicles
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THE right to stop vehicles on the road should not be granted to Ministry of Transport examiners because it might sometimes be abused, Mr. L. C. Jacobs, chief certifying officer of the West Midland Area, last week told the Birmingham division of the Industrial Transport Association in an address on preventive maintenance.
An operator was seldom prosecuted for a first offence concerning the roadworthiness of his vehicles, said Mr. Jacobs, and in accordance with the declared policy of the West Midland Licensing Authority examiners avoided any action that would give " prosecution " the character of "persecution." It was normally possible to judge whether a haulier had done his best to maintain his vehicle in good condition or was negligent.
In answer to a question regarding shortcomings in the design of vehicles, Mr. Jacobs said that Ministry officials could investigate a case of faulty design and "take action" if it could be proved that a component was "dangerous.' The possibility had been considered, he said, of designing a utility vehicle based on the findings of examiners, but if such a design were accepted it might limit the initiative and prerogative of the makers.