AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

" Heavies " Show How

5th July 1957, Page 52
5th July 1957
Page 52
Page 52, 5th July 1957 — " Heavies " Show How
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

D• RIVING one of the few multiwheelers taking part in the Southend-on-Sea heat of the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition on Sunday last, G. Armstrong (Leyland Octopus, Charringions, Ltd) put up an almost 'faultless performance and became the outright winner.

The event, the first of its kind to he held at Southend, was organized by the local Sub-area of the Road Haulage Association, with the help of the Thames Estuary Automobile Club. There were 59 entries, none of which was a British Road Services vehicle.

The Commercial Motor representative was told that this was because the organizers, not wishing to bite off more than they could chew in running their first contest, had limited the field; and the entry, list was early and quickly filled by private operators.

First part of the heat involved followed a road section on which there were 10 observation points. 'This was followed by verbal questioning of drivers by police officers on the Highway Code.' Only about half of the entrants seemed to have studied the Code, and many others dropped harks heavily for their ignorance.

The effect of this for some otherwise good drivers was decisive: their skill exercised in the manceuvring tests was discounted so far as class awards were concerned. On the other hand, only one of the seven competitors who gained full marks for their knowledge of the Code emerged finally as a class winner.

She was S./Sgt. Allen, one of six women Territorial Army Bedford drivers who competed against each other in a separate class.

The first manceuvring test entailed drivers' indicating the size of gap c14 through which they reckoned they could take their vehicles. The second test simulated parking by a kerb into a space 11 times as long as the vehicle, only three moves—forward, reverse and forward—being permitted.

This test was the most difficult of the three. The amount of space on the off side available for positioning the vehicle before reversing was the same for all classes of vehicle, but a higher proportion of drivers of small-medium type vehicles than of big outfits made heavy weather of it.

Feature of the contest was, in fact, the superiority, as a class, of the drivers of big vehicles. Of the eight entrants with rigid vehicles of over 25 ft. long, five gained over 400 points. Thirteen of the 51 other drivers topped the 400 mark.

I he first two tests were laid down by the National Competition organizers for this year's series of heats. The third was of local invention and involved reversing into a bay at right angles to the road, full marks being awarded to those drivers who placed their vehicles parIllel to the sides of the bay. • A fine collection of prizes was handed over to the winners at the end of a sweltering day by Ald. H. H. Smith, Deputy Mayor of Southend, a pioneer vehicle operator in the teiwn.


comments powered by Disqus