ROAD AND WORKSHOP by Handyman
Page 41
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A driver is at all times responsible—but . . .
ECOGNIZING the driver's voice on the phone as that of an old hand, it ; something of a surprise to learn that had met with an accident, and did not )w quite what to do.
t needed little imagination to conjure visions of wreckage, police cars and on. On his request that I travel the miles to the scene little time was Ued. It was completely dark when I ivecl at the accident, which was at a nt midway along a 44--mile stretch of tl carriageway, identified as a clear t.was something of a relief to find no eked road or wreckage—only my rigid it-wheeler and one farm tractor and de-axle trailer, by now safely off the in tarmac. The trailer was loaded about 1+ tons of farm manure—the rer was a worried young man, who Id have been 17 years of age; he was tort and his outfit undamaged.
t appeared that my driver had been ning at around 37 m.p.h. with no other he in sight, in good weather with k setting in. He was on sidelights intended coming on to headlamps at end of the clearway. He reported L the farm tractor had appeared to c straight out of a field directly in path, with no lights on and apparently lout looking to his right.
iy driver was carrying a high load of ed bottles and had to make a splitmd decision whether to swerve right I risk loosing his load) or stay in a ight line under full brakes. He chose latter and just touched the tailboard the trailer before stopping. The
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damage to our vehicle was slight, being no more than the radiator pushed back far enough to make light contact with the fan blades.
As both machines were clear of other traffic it was now possible to plot the next move. First of all—the tractor driver. He had a further mile to travel down the clearway, then two fields to his farm. This he intended to carry on with in due course—not the least troubled by such things as visibility or lighting regulations, but really concerned at the chances of a lost meal. Now, his outfit. No number plate, no rear lamps or refiectors—there were brake drums fitted on the trailer, but nothing connecting them to the tractor. On the tractor there were mirror frames (but no glasses in them). Two headlamps were fitted, one of which did work—but only when the dynamo cut in. The battery lid could not be removed; this was a steel cover and would have required a hacksaw on the bolts. There were no tail lamps on the tractor.
This then was a quick condition check on one transport vehicle using a clearway at dusk and which had become involved, however slightly, with another transport vehicle. The point was—what to do next? Go to a phone and have a chat with the police? This seemed a little drastic, with no real damage or injury. Should we then go up the two fields and have a chat with the farmer? This was probably the right thing to do, but from the look of the farm outfit this could he a complete waste of time. First things first, so after adjusting the vehicle radiator stay to clear the fan (which had only just brushed the radiator tubes) the tractor/trailer was escorted along the clearway covered at the rear by the rigid and in front by my car. A few words on lighting and so on —which did not register with the young man—and then we returned to our home base.
Should the farmer have been approached and told a few home truths? Sent a booklet on Construction and Use Regulations? Should he have been invited to attend a meeting of a regional maintenance advisory committee? Or, after all, in the interests of other road users, should the police have been informed?
If the incident had been of a more serious nature--and despite the unlit tractor—the law would have decided that my driver was at fault in not seeing the obstacle in front in time to take evasive action. Previous courtroom experience in connection with road accidents indicate quite clearly (and, I should say, quite rightly so) that the driver is at all times held responsible if he permits his vehicle to hit some other object on the road— whether it is a stray animal, a pedestrian, a fallen tree, or ark open gate. .
If it happens to be a vehicle, stopped unlit through a defect, and it is in his path, he should be able to pick up a sight of it in time to avoid contact—with lighting appropriate for the conditions.
Up to the time of this particular incident, farm equipment on the move from field to field had been ark accepted part of movement on the roads—only arousing criticism or interest when some delay was caused.
Since this incident, and having travelled some 17,200 miles of main road by car, I have taken a very special interest in this matter. I have recorded overtaking 23 tractor/trailer outfits—and on only four could I read the number plates. On 12 the tractor was completely hidden by the trailer load. Some 17 were driven by youths—and two were being steered by teenage females. In one case there were six other persons cluttered around the tractor portion.
It would appear evident that there is work to be done in this matter. If such equipment is to continue using busy roads—particularly trunk roads—consideration will have to be given to emphasizing legal vehicle requirements, with particular attention to the age and road experience of many of the drivers concerned.
Further, as the modern farm tractor is now as well equipped as almost any car, it does appear that there is a serious maintenance problem.