1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148 
Drivers'-hours Warning in C amissioners' Annual Reports
Page 62
Page 63
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE tendency for the number of operators of passenger service vehicles to drop, and the number of vehicles owned to increase was maintained during the period April 1, 1937-March 31, 1938, covered by the Seventh Annual Reports of the Traffic Commissioners, which has just been published. This, as in previous years, comes about as a result of the absorption of small operators by "'associated companies," a feature which is not now looked upon with such misgivings by the Commissioners.
The total number of operators, as at December 31, 1937, is given as 4,798, representing a decrease of 218 or 4.3 per
cent., as compared with that at the end of 1936. The number of vehicles owned A-s.a.s 49,574, an increase of 3.2 per cent., whilst the total number of seats increased by 3.8 per cent. to 1,737,487.
The period of the report covers the bus strike in the Central London area-from May 1-May 27, 1937-and thus the figures relating to stage services are materially affected. Nevertheless, passenger journeys on all services increased by 3.7 per cent. at 6,664,000,000, whilst the passengers carried by local authorities amounted to 2,099,000,000-an increase of 13.5 per cent.-and those carried by " other operators " were 6 per cent, up at 2,621,000,000. The traffic conveyed by London Transport showed a decrease of 7.2 per cent. at 2,004,000,000.
• Passenger Receipts Show an Increase. • Passenger receipts on all services continued to rise, the figure being about 267,600,000, representing an increase of 3.8 per cent. There was an extension of vehicle mileage 2.1 per Cent., which brought the 1937 figure up to 1,461,600,000. The average receipt per passenger journey for all services-2.44d.-showed no material variation, as compared with the previous year, hut the average receipt per vehicle-mile increased from 10.99d. to 11.17d., each class of vehicle showing a greater ratio of increase in receipts than in vehicle-miles.
That the atmosphere which exists between operators in general and the Commissioners, in the various Traffic Areas, is a happy one is evidenced in the annual reports of proceedings from all the centres, but, at the same time, they contain two ominous warnings. One is associated with the operation of excursions of " private parties," and the other is concerned with drivers' hours.
A typical reference to these points is made by the Commissioners for the Northern Area, the report stating " that the Commissioners are disturbed to note that the number ut
c24
convictions in respect of contraventions of Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, increased from four during the previous year to 56 this year. These irregularities were mainly associated with the operation of excursions of private parties,' carried under the provisions of Section 25 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934. . ."
The enforcement of the provisions of this Section is recognized by the Commissioners as one of the chief contributions they are able to make in connection with the reduction of accidents on the road', and they will continue to take all steps in their power to ensure that drivers of public-service vehicles are not permitted to drive for excessive hours.
This report, referring to oil-engined vehicles, says:" There is a marked improvement in the diminution of noise and exhaust fumes . . . but much yet remains to be done."
Chassis and bodybuilders are accused of failing to co-ordinate their ideas-and, in this connection, the observation is made that " the time has arrived when the vehicle should be considered as a whole and not as two separate parts, that is, body and chassis."
In the Yorkshire Area, 285 vehicle licences were temporarily suspended for mechanical faults and, whilst this figure continues to decrease year by year, the Commissioners' observations are interesting, in that they show the cause of the defects to be concerned mainly with steer lug and braking systems and unsatisfactory maintenance of bodywork.
In the last report from this area the number of oilengined machines M operation was given as 1,194, whilst the figure now quoted-is 1,542, which represents aFr.roxi"mately SS per cent, of the total number of vehicles in the area.
The Commissioners for the North-Western Area are not a little concerned with the anomalies that exist in respect of fares charged by " associated companies," and it is thought that such operators should come into line with the many municipalities which make their charges on a common mileage basis.
• Passenger Comfort improves. •
Favourable comments are made in this report in -connection With the progress which has been made in respect of the comfort and convenience of modern passenger-service
vehicles. "It is pleasing to record," says the report, " that, even when existing vehicles are overhauled and bodies renovated, there is a distinct tendency . . . to bring the bodies into line with modern construction by rebuilding and lifting the roof, thus giving additional headroom and, at the same time, providing more adequate ventilation."
After referring to a regrettable and noticeable increase in the number of prosecutions affecting driving hours, the report says: " It is for serious consideration whether the requirements, by statute, of some form of drivers' hours record, to be kept by operators of passenger services, would not be of material assistance in enforcing the observance of the law by these operators."
The Commissioners for the West Midland Area have some comments to make regarding vehicle design, particularly as concerns the suspension. . . . " With the increased acceleration now obtained," to quote from the report, " there is some need for improVement in springing. Publicservice vehicles are generally not too well sprung." Comment is also made on the lack of space provided for the driver; since, says the report, the safety, of the vehicle depends so largely on the driver's efficiency, his comfort should be more considered.
• Inefficient Only by Comparison. is
An interesting observation is made by the East Midland Commissioners concerning a considerable number of complaints which are being continually received, alleging all sorts of defects in vehicles, with the expression of surprise that such dangerous machines are permitted to run.
The Commissioners comment on this by saying:— " Investigation has invariably proved that the vehicles were roadworthy and complied with the regulations. The root cause of these complaints has been the marked improvement in comfort of modern vehicles over some of the older types." The fact that many operators would appear to refrain from demanding the maximum number of seats M their vehicles and thus provide a greater degree of comfort to passengers, is mentioned.
Whilst the general tone of the reports would indicate that operators, on the whole, are maintaining their vehicles to a high standard, the East Midland authorities are not
so happy in this respect. " Some operators," says the report, "do not maintain their standard of maintenance unless ,kept under constant supervision. In such cases, examiners find dust-laden (moquette) seats . . interiors not clean and sweet, minor defects, such as loose door hinges and catches, worn floor coverings and loose windows. Other, operators do not appreciate the value and necessity
of cleaning the chassis occasionally. . . Mechanically, vehicles are generally good."
For the first time, say the Commissioners for the Eastern Area, there were no vehicles, licensed solely as contract carriages, and the proportion of vehicles licensed, so that they are capable of use for all, types of service, has increased. The report shows that the net decrear in the number of operators in he area, as at March 31, 1938, was 22, as compared with the previous year.
It is interesting to note that, out of 514 inspections made, following upon notification under Section 70 of the Act, of damage or alteration of vehicles, 314 related to machines which had been converted from petrol to oil.
By way of disabusing the idea that an operator must, of necessity, prove the need for new services, it is refreshing to read the report of the Traffic Commissioners for South Wales. Referring to this matter, the authorities say that " in some cases, such services are experimental and have been commenced by enterprising operators in the hope that they will attract such traffic as will justify their continuance. . . . There can be no doubt that facilities often create traffic and that need for new services can Only be demonstrated by experience. We are always anxious to encourage the introduction of new services, as they often prove a boon to the inhabitants of isolated districts and, in such instances, we are prepared to grant a road service licence for an experimental period of one year, so that the proposed route may be tested." This report makes it quite clear that the development of new passenger services in the area is impeded by the unsuitable condition of the roads.
• Inadequate Facilities Lead to Overloading.
Considerable forbearance is shown in this area for operators who persistently overload their vehicles and, whilst obviously the law must be enforced, a particularly sympathetic attitude is shown, because there would appear to be something in the nature of inadequate facilities for such a large industrial area.
High tribute is paid to those engaged in the road passenger transport industry in the South Wales Area, the Commissioners saying that: " In our opinion the standard of conduct of everyone . . is particularly high, and that there is no industry in the area in which the general conduct of the persons engaged therein is higher than, if indeed as high, as in the passenger-transport industry."
Another case of indifferent roads preventing the institution of a regular service comes from the South-Eastern Area. the application for a licence actually being opposed by the highway authority on the ground that the road was unsuitable. In view of the evidence presented to the Commissioners there was no alternative but to uphold the authority's objection. It seems incomprehensible that the failure to repair the particular highway was due to inability of the various parties concerned to accept liability.
The number of vehicles operated by London Transport, as at March 31, 1938, is given by the Commissioner for the Nletropolitan Area as 6,105, this actually showing a decrease on the number licensed at March 31, 1937.
• Contravention of " Private Party " Regulations. • This report deals at some length with contraventions of Subsection (2) of Section 61 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, which covers the use of vehicles as contract carriages. The Commissioner says that, although the amendment of the law by Section 25 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, has no doubt assisted materially in removing uncertainty in the interpretation or application of the words "used on a special occasion for the conveyance of a private party," it has not had the effect of reducing breaches of the law; in fact, the position has grown steadily worse.
Lack of facilities for the female staff of operators is criticized at some length by the Commissioners for Northern Scotland. It is interesting that this is one of two areas which show their appreciation of the Press.
Contrary to the reports from other areas, the one covering Southern Scotland, dealing with contract-carriage records, says that there has been " a satisfactory compliance with the regulations on this subject."
Sizing up the reports as a whole, it is evident that the road passenger transport industry is in a particularly healthy state, and that no efforts are being made to throttle it, as is the case on the goods-vehicle side.