Back-door Competition
Page 32
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pUBLICATION of the new Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness) Regulations has in no way abated the hostility of the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association towards the use of 12-seaters as ,buses and coaches. They condemn as retrograde the lowering of standards of operation for 12-seaters which the new regulations allow. It is certainly surprising at a time when greater attention than ever before is being concentrated on public safety.
There is little hope that the use of 12-seaters will enable unremunerative rural services to be continued, although that is the sole reason for relaxing the constructional requirements relating to them. Rather is their availability as public service vehicles likely to encourage new entrants to private hire, on which most operators of regular services rely for part of their income and which they would be loth to lose.
Coach operators have been advised to keep a watchful eye on the use of 12-seaters in any way that affects their own activities, either on licensed services or contractcarriage work. They have been reminded that any vehicle seating eight to 12 passengers and rim for hire or reward must have a public service vehicle licence and a certificate of fitness.
Breaches of the law in this respect should be reported to the P.V.O.A. and the ,Traffic Commissioners. The financial condition of road passenger transport does not permit any encrOachment by amateurs or pirates on the activities of regular operators, who have to maintain a high standard of public safety and amenity.