Stricter Control of Hire-car Fuel
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rOMING into force on June 7 is the k...Control of Motor Fuel Order, 1943, which amends that of 1942, and strengthens the provisions of Part 2 of the latter, which relates to hire-car services.
In future, the hirer of a car without a driver may be furnished with, or acquire, fuel for a journey only within the 10-mile inner radius, and for a "permitted purpose." Such purpose is defined as: (1) For the hirer's urgent domestic purposes: (2) in connection with essential service S being performed by the hirer in a case where other means for travel are not reasonably practicable. Thus the unrestricted use • of such a car without a driver, within the inner radius, is eliminated. No fresh restrictions are placed upon such cars with drivers within the 10-mile radius. Journeys outside the inner, but within the outer radius of 75 miles, in a hired vehicle, with or without a driver, may be made only for the two permitted purposes as defined above.
A new feature is the prohibition of the supply of fuel for use in a motor vehicle hired out for more than three consecutive days, or for an aggregate of six days in any month, by the same proprietor to the same hirer, except under Ministry licence. " Hirer" is made to include members of the same household, partners in any undertaking and their agents or servants.
The tightening up of. the regulations should remove many of the abuses of hired vehicles which have aroused much unfavourable comment from people who have made some sacrifice in order to lay up their cars.
The Ministry has observed several glaring examples of misuse. Self-drive cars have been plying as taxicabs in London, others have been used for unlawful expeditions. One pseudo carhire concern uses its allowance for the conveyance of a dance band formed from its members and their relatives.