Standardized Safety. Features Needed
Page 65
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OUND-TABLE conferences between
representative interests concerned, with a view to the general ,adoption of safety-first features often Introduced at the instigation of individual operators, were suggested, ,last Friday, by Mr. John E., Woodford, M.B.E. . He was reading a paper on '' Legislation Affeeting Public Safety in Relation to Road Passenger Transport," before the Manchester, Liverpool and district section
of the Institute of Transport. Mr. Woodford is clerk to the North-Western Traffic Commissioners.
He put forward the following as items which might merit discussion:— Driving visibility, in conjunction with adjustable seats; blinds behind drivers; near-side rear-view mirrors; spotlights On entrance Steps; mirrors on the upper platforms of doubte-deckers; and the interchanging of bodies among chassis.
Mr. Woodford deseribed in detail current legislation designed to praintite safety.
Referring to the mechanical condition of vehicles, he said that, in the year ended March 31, 1936, 10,582 certificates of fitness were granted, 58 were refused and two revoked. Although the majority of new vehicles was immediately eligible for certification, many required some alteration. In nine Traffic Areas, 8,905 certificates were granted, 858 being of one ,year's duration; 715, two years' ; 1,626, three years' ; 1,634, four years' ; and 4,562, five years'.
As proof of his contention that legislation had not led to stereotyped production, Mr. Woodford pointed out that practically no use had been made of the special arrangements under the 1930 Act, whereby a vehicle could be certified • as a type vehicle: One maker had said that he had given up trying to reach some degree of unanimity between purchasers on points of view affecting. design, layout and equipment.
Records available in 11 areas howed tbit 12,204 new applicants for public service vehicle drivers' licences were tested during the year ended March 31
last, and 1,120 failed. Altogether, 89,024 drivers' licences were granted and 1,222 refused.
CORPORATION AND COMPANIES JOIN IN PURCHASE.
BOLTON Corporation, Lancashire United Tramways Co. and Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., are understood to be taking steps to acquire the Black
burn-Manchester bus service run by • Lewis Cronshaw, Ltd., Blackburn. The • managing director of Ribble Motor Ser. vices, Ltd., has provisionally agreed to terms for the purchase of the service.
CORPORATION WINS TUSSLE FOR SERVICE.
LEICESTER Corporation has decided to purchase for £3,000 the bus service operated between Leicester and Evington village by Mr. H, T. Errington. The future of the service was the cause of competition, last year, between the corporation and the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co„ Ltd. Both sought to acquire the service, which meets the needs of a rapidly growing suburb.
The matter was taken to appeal.