Whalley takes control
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• The conduct of drivers, on United Automobile Services' "Hoppa" minibus services, has led to North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Frederick Whalley taking action to control their operation through a Traffic Regulation Condition.
Cleveland County Council had requested the determination of a TRC banning the operation of local services on 22 roads on four housing estates in Hartlepool, and banning the operation of hailand rideservices on a further ten. However, Whalley was not satisfied that such blanket bans were necessary, and instead has imposed a TRC that actually controls the services.
Residents of the estates complained of drivers speeding, smoking and reading newspapers while driving and of a number of minor accidents. From his own observations, Whalley said it was clear that some of the schedules were too tight.
Much of the concern was due to the poor standard of driving, said Whalley. It was a matter that had been drawn to United Automobile's attention. Assurances had been given that the appropriate action would be taken, but if there was no improvement he would take action himself.
The situation was that the speed of the vehicles was too high for residential roads, the frequency of the services was not such as to prevent bunching or mini-buses having to pass one another on narrow estate roads, and vehicles were regularly stopping for passengers at points where danger could arise.
Consequently, he imposed a Traffic Regulation Condition containing five elements, which were: the frequency of any local services shall not exceed six journeys per hour; the timetables of services shall ensure that no vehicle need exceed 321cm/h hail-and-ride operations shall be confined to where there are no recognised bus stops; where hail-and-ride was in operation, no vehicle shall stop to allow passengers to board or alight where danger or congestion might result; and that no vehicle operated shall exceed 7m overall in length or 2.16m in width.