Drivers' Amenities and Parks which are Neglected
Page 2
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
rr HERE have been many complaints of lack of accommodation for parking vehicles on our highways and of satisfactory sleeping quarters for drivers and their mates. The police in many'areas are becoming increasingly perturbed at the parking of heavy vehisles on roads either adjacent to cafés or elsewhere. Not only do these vehicles constitute obstructions but they also encourage pilferage of their contents or even theft of the lorries complete with valuable loads.
There is, however, one aspect that has not, perhaps, received the consideration it deserves. This is the attitude of the men themselves to the provision of such amenities as those to which we have referred. We know of cases in which lorry parks charging comparatively reasonable amounts' for keeping vehicles under all-night observation. and providing clean and comfortable sleeping accommodation at a few shillings per night, have been almost totally unused, whilst dozens of lorries have been parked on neighbouring roads.
It is difficult to understand why advantage has not been taken of such comparatively safe garaging, particularly as, in some instances, arrangements can be made between the owners of such sites and the operators of vehicles for special terms to cover regular "visitors."
On the other hand, it is easy to comprehend why some men are averse to paying more than a shilling or so for often inferior accommodation afforded at this cost. It is because they are too apt to look upon the authorized allowance as a part of their wages and endeavour to save as much of this as they can, despite discomfort and, possibly. unhygienic conditions.
This is definitely discouraging to those who are setting out to provide better facilities at admittedly higher but still reasonable prices, certainly well within the limits of the allowance made.
Operators should institute an inquiry into this matter and indicate to their men that they are expected to employ their allowances to the best effect. It is unfair to all concerned and unsatisfactory to the men themselves that they should not take advantage of good conditions where they are offered; also it cannot be expected that they will continue to be provided unless they be used One way of overcoming the difficulty would be to require the employees • concerned to return receipts for their lodging, and no doubt the proprietors of the better-class establishments would co-operate in this matter.