Police Give up Illegal Towing Ambulances
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THE Metropolitan Police last week stated that they would discontinue use of a certain type of towing ambulance for shifting unattended vehicles, following a High Court decision that the device did not meet the Construction and Use Regulations,
Lord Goddard, Lord Chief Justice, upheld the conviction by Blandford magistrates of Harry George Shaw Wilkinson, Homestead Garage, North Hykeham, Lincoln, for using a twowheeled trailer without mudguards and sufficient springs to tow a broken-down vehicle. Dorset Quarter Sessions Appeal Committee had dismissed his appeal.
Mr. Geoffrey Lane, for Wilkinson, said that the trailer was known as a "heavyduty car ambulance" of the type used by the Metropolitan Police. Some 10,000 were employed throughout the country.
Lord Goddard: " It is a very useful appliance, but as the regulations stand it cannot be used." .
It was difficult to see how mudguards and springs could be fitted. Dorset Police thought it necessary to bring proceedings, and there could be no answer to the case.
The IMetropolitan Police explained that although they would not use such ambulances, most parked vehicles were shifted by being driven away, "CODIFY AND PUBLISH BUS RULES!'
NAUCH time was taken to educate plat/VI form staffs, and it would be fair to them if the general conditions under which buses operated could be codified nationally and widely publicized. A small booklet could be produced for free issue or for sale at nominal cost, and its circulation might help to remove sources of friction between passengers and conductors.
This was advocated by Mr. B. C. Clarke. of Leicester Transport Department, in a paper entitled "The bus passenger and the law" presented to the Institute of Traffic Administration. He gained the Institute's second prize paper award for 1958, first prize being awarded to Mr: I. Little of British Railways.
The prizes will be presented at the Institute's annual. dinner On May 17,_ at Blackpool, by Lord IVIerrivale, president.
KNIGHTSBRIDGE TO BE IMPROVED ALTERATIONS are to be made in Knightsbridge, London, at the junction with Sloane Street, so that the benefits of the proposed underpass at Hyde Park Corner will not be dissipated by the
• creation of a new bottleneck in Knightsbridge.
This was stated in the House of Commons last week by Mr. G. R. H. 'Nugent, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry Of Transport, after Mr. Ernest Davies and Mr. Gresham 'Cooke had pointed out that unless Knightsbridge were improved the money spent On the underpass would be Wasted. '
Mr. Nugerit.said this had not. been lost sight of by the Ministry.
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