Q Some time last year it was stated in CM that
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the ruling that a "steersman" on a vehicle being towed need not have a driving licence had been challenged and that this was now open to doubt through more recent case law. Could you restate the circumstances ?
A In "Know the law," CM August 2, 1974, Les Oldridge pointed out that in R. v MacDonagh 2 All ER 1974, the Lord Chief Justice had referred to Wallace v Mayor in which the "steersman" ruling occurred, and had doubted whether the correct conclusion had been reached.
The Lord Chief Justice had said : "The court seerneC have regarded the defend as merely a steersman an have ignored his respo: bility for the use of brakes."
Les Oldridge pointed that in view of this rerm where a vehicle is be towed by means of a rope chain so that the per steering it has to use brakes, then that pers presumably, ought now have a driving licence.