OPINIONS and
Page 33
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UERIES
PRIORITY CERTIFICATES ESSENTIAL FOR WORKERS WIILE waiting in a queue at an important Hants and rset bus station the other day. I gathered interesting information which boils down to the fact that workers' travel certificates are most urgently required. Women shoppers from the country districts still crowd the buses making evening departures, whilst many arrive by the early morning workmen's vehicles, obviously to take advantage of workmen's tickets.
When, to meet difficult transport conditions, additional buses have been put on, in a few days these relief vehicles again become crowded with people who are obviously not workers. Some form of priority_ pass would, in such circumstances, prove of exceptional value, but only to regular travellers. With the frequent shifting bf labour, some men and women engaged on urgent work would still suffer inconvenience, and I suggest that these could also 'be provided with a more general form of priority certificate, which would cover any service.
Take, for instance, our own industry. Many men and women engaged in driving or as mates on vehicles have to return their machines to depots, and may have a considerable distance to travel home; also, to get to their woe)/ early, some have to walk miles in the black-out at each end of the day, and this is not conducive to good and efficient work; in fact, it really means longer hours on duty. ActoLan. Slough.
A DRIVER'S ADVICE ON CHILDREN'S SAFETY AS a loyal citizen and, incidentally, a heavy-vehicle driver, I am naturally appalled at the many deaths of children on the road, and I feel it my duty to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned at least one of the causes of many accidents to the young. I think that, if each person concerned puts forward his bit towards obviating this grave evil, something will be done. Motor drivers are weary of being pointed out so often as the sole cause of accidents, and they are continually being reminded to drive carefully. I am sure that most of them do so, but they are not receiving the help from the populace that they should expect.
The other day, for instance, I was travelling along a street in London, which is often filled with children playing. A man called to me to stop, and I did so, as the expression on his face told me that there was something wrong. He informed me that three small children were hanging on to ropes, between the front and rear wheels, which were used for retaining the load. One slip on the part of a child would have consequences which can wen be imagined.
Now, *hat is to be done about this sort of thing, as I am sure that many accidents must happen in this way, which are obviously not the fault of the driver, because he Cannot see what is happening. Surely this is shee-r neglect on the part of those who are suppbsed to be responsible for these children, and they should be liable.
In this particular street mothers ale on the steps gossiping or imbibing their afterhoon tea, while their children are roaming the streets—children of ages betwebn two and seven, with old perambulators, little trollies, etc. In such circumstahces, no reduction ill speed would have the desired effect; in fact, the slower a vehicle travels the nuke likely it is that the children. will take a free ride or hang on.
• Personally, I was taught at a very early age not to run behind even a baker's cart, the penalty being a good spanking, and it is possibly to this that I owe the fact that I am still alive. It is not my intention to advocate that children should be ill-treated or put in chains; but they must be taught from the earliest 'years not to run into the road or play there when vehicles are about, and this should be the responsibility of the'parents. If a driver acts foolishly or neglectfully, he is liable to punishment, and this s uld be made applicable to those who are blessed with
• Any -traffic officer who has doubts as to the truth of my statements can travel with me at any time on application, and thus obtain a personal view of the matter.
London, N.12. R. Envicx. MORE MILEAGE FROM THERE seems to be a considerable confusion regarding the recent Order which makes it an offence to run a tyre beyond a certain limit, and there appears to be something radically wrong with its injunctions. There must be thousands of part-worn tyres which are already too far gone to permit safe retreading, and yet which, on vehicles operating at medium speeds, would be capable of running a considerable number of -miles before they became entirely useless.
I suggest, therefore, that, in such instances, the driver could be given a permit from an authorized tyre depot
which would cover him against prosecution. This would do much to relieve.any existing and future shortage and prevent the tyres (which could still be runners for several thousands of 'miles) being condemned by law to the salvage dump.
It is, of course, not suggested that such tyres should be run until they become positively dangerous, but any good' retreader will state quite definitely that there are many tyres which, whilst being unfit for treatment by them, could still be employed for .a considerable period.
CleverIeys. H.B. IMMOBILIZING VEHICLES DURING SHORT STOPS IN DAYLIGHT ("NNE of our carmen, while out delivering small ,orsters of coal, was reported by a constable for leaving his lorry unattended without immobilizing it, in the hours of daylight. He was not charged, but we would like to be sure of our position in the circumstances.
We were under the impression this is not necessary for periods of up to five minutes, but the officer maintained that it should be done immediately.
London, E.2. fSeveral cases of the type A. L. PoTTS. mentioned in your. letter have
been brought to our notice, but it has usually.been understood, although we cannot lay our hands on any actual order, that it is not necessary, when a vehicle is delivering material and it stops for only a few minutes for that purpose, that it should be immobilized. Such a requirement would appear to us to be stretching the legal aspect to an absurd extent, particularly if the -vehicle makes a large number of stops, and that is, apparently, the official view.—En.]