Midland Red disciplinary decision reserved after fatal accident
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• Spot checks on four Midland Red garages between September 14 and 23, 1971, resulted in 32 vehicles being immediately ordered off the road, "rudely shattering" any confidence that an improvement in the maintenance and general vehicle condition of Midland Red was being made.
This was stated at an inquiry in Birmingham on Tuesday which was instigated following the deaths of two people when a driverless bus ran into a bus queue at Dudley earlier this year (CM November 19).
The West Midland Commissioners were considering the suspension of some or all of the psv licences held by Midland Red.
The court was told that in the earlier part of 1970 the Commissioners had then decided to hold an inquiry following unsatisfactory maintenance reports, which included an incident when a wheel dropped off a bus which was in operation but, later, withdrew the hearing, after Midland Red had given them grounds to believe that maintenance arrangements had been and were being improved.
Referring to this incident, Mr John Main, representing Midland Red, said the company had been put "on probation" and that it was not unusual for probationary sentences to be given as many as four times. Midland Red realized there had been a decline in maintenance and had made every effort to rectify the matter.
Mr R. E. Braithwaite, chief engineer, said Midland Red had already reduced its fleet size to a minimum and had cancelled orders for new vehicles. Because of this it would be Very difficult to find replacement vehicles if the Commissioners decided to suspend any psv licences, especially in the case of double-decker o-m-o vehicles, and there would be no guarantee that these would be in any better condition than the vehicles suspended.
The general manager of the company, Mr .1. W. Womar, said the company had increased its vehicle maintenance expenditure and appointed four additional inspectors. Asked by Mr J. Else, chairman of the Commissioners, if he felt it was good idea to have independent inspectors Mr Wolmar replied that this was already possible by using inspectors from another corn pany.
In his submission to the Commissioners Mr Main said the company fully realized the decline in maintenance but had taken steps to improve this. If the Commissioners were to suspend any of the psv licences it would not be in the public interest and for this reason no action should be taken but a second probationary period allowed.
The Commissioners decided to give their decision in writing within seven days.
Midland Red's fleet is at present 1301 vehicles. Between April 1970 and October 1971 1208 vehicles were involved in fleet and spot checks. Of these, 73 attracted immediate and 25 attracted delayed prohibitions. There were 279 defect notices and 408 advisory defect notices.