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Bird's Eye
Page 104
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ViewBY THE HAWK
Model Medal
WITHOUT any doubt, one of the most outstanding models I have seen for a long time gets my medal of merit. BP Trading Ltd. is handing over to London's Science Museum a model of a 1920 Dennis road tanker which literally is perfect in every detail. It was a combination vehicle, space behind the tank (for carriage of lamp oil) being available in the sided body for carriage of motor spirit in cans. How times have changed! Apart from the 12 m.p.h. speed limit wording, the chassis also carries information relating to the front (3 tons) and rear (6 tons) axle loading.
Safe Fords
T WAS deeply intrigued at the story (see page 56) about the work 1 Ford of Britain is carrying out at the Motor Industry Research Association, particularly where it related to cab design and reduction of driver fatigue. The old question of seat belts has been occupying much of their time and I am most interested in their hint that they will soon have available a cheap and effective system, probably incorporating automatic application of seat belts.
I wish them luck. This could be revolutionary and would certainly solve the problem of the delivery van driver who, with six or seven drops an hour. will never put on an ordinary safety belt.
Freeman
AT this time LDOY chairmen and secretaries are beginning to ask: "Is it worth it"? One man who has never had any doubts in this respect is the chairman of the Portsmouth centre. Aid. J. P. D. Lacey. He is looking forward as eagerly to this year's round on July 19 as he did to his first-ever round 14 years ago. But prior to that big event, on June 24, Jim—who is also chairman of the Accident Prevention Council—will become a Freeman of Portsmouth. The last person to be similarly honoured was the late Sir Winston Churchill. Such is the calibre of LDOY men—so keep at it, you waning secretaries. You never know!
The Good Shepherd
MORE than a few eyebrows were raised at Reading last week when an application for a new B licence came before the South-Eastern LA, Mr. J. A. Shepherd. The applicants—Cat Hire Ltd.—were very much "new boys" to licensing procedure; they appeared without representation or proof of need, but not without objectors. Mr. Shepherd outlined the proper procedure and advised the applicants that they could now make application for an adjournment. The advice was taken and, despite an appeal on behalf of the objectors, the request was duly granted. A highly commendable action, I think.
Worst Best
T AM told that the police in the West Country are rivalling the LA's 1 vehicle examiners in their keenness to inspect road hauliers' vehicles. One lorry owner was told by the police, after a check, that certain tyres on his vehicle must be changed forthwith. Yet a few hours earlier a traffic examiner had opined that the offending tyres, although getting a bit worn, would be safe for another two or three thousand miles. When this conflict was raised, unofficially, with the area mechanical engineer, some little embarrassment was caused. I hear that the reaction was: "If you press me on this, obviously the more stringent view will prevail". Hm. . . .
Hidden Complexities
EgULL marks to Prof. Young, who turned what delegates to the Public Transport Association conference in Scarborough feared would be a deadly dull morning into a very lively one. I must confess that I too was rather apprehensive of what was to come, but Andrew Young found a way of dealing with a complex subject, one above the heads of most people, in a frank and entertaining way. What particularly intrigued me was his knowledge of the problems facing bus operators—not the familiar problems we hear so much about, but the unfamiliar ones not discussed in public. Andrew Young began by apologizing for trespassing into the busman's field, but such an apology was completely unnecessary. The roar of approval when he spoke of the morass of hidden and local rules one faced when dealing with bus crews showed that he had his audience with him. I liked the example he quoted: "You cannot put Bill on to that route—his mistress used to live at the other end". Frivolous? Maybe, but just the very sort of problem a computer cannot possibly deal with!
Safe–driving Fob
MOST companies, like individuals, recognize road-safety campaigns as a necessary member in our campaign-filled lives but relatively few take any positive steps towards this end. Shell-Mex and BP Ltd. is one of the few. This year they issued to their driving staff a key ring with a fob carrying the Golden Girl motif (reproduced here). The theme is "Their Lives in Your Hands", and the purpose is to act as a constant remind'er to drivers of their responsibilities to all road users. The example set by Shell-Mex and BP has been followed by others. including Rank Hovis McDougall Ltd., Schweppes (Home) Ltd., Thomas Tillings Ltd., Beecham Group Ltd., Imperial Tobacco Ltd. and The Nestle Co. Ltd.
It is felt that no more personal symbol could be found to remind all drivers of their responsibility at the wheel.