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The Minister Complains of Tram Noise
Page 71
Page 72
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THE Minister of Transport presided at a recent lecture given by Wing Commander T. R. Cave-Browne-Cave, a member of the council of the Anti-Noise League, on exhaust and other noises of road transport.
Mr. Hore-Belisha took the opportunity of referring to the committee he had appointed, under the chairmanship of Sir Henry Fowler, to study and report on the principal causes of noise due to road vehicles, and the steps which should be taken.
This committee has been in session for several months, and it is hoped that its efforts will result in the establishment of a certain standard of noise with which it will be possible for manufacturers to conform. Despite the fact that there is at present no standard of measurement, in 1933 the police obtained over 8,000 convictions for offences connected with noise.
The Minister mentioned that his train of thought is perpetually broken by the grating noise of trams, and he welcomes the substitution of these vehicles by trolleybuses.
In this connection, Lord Ashfield has announced that he hopes to be able, within the next year, to substitute trolleybuses for trams on 40 route-miles c17 of tramway, which is no less than one-eighth of the total mileage operated by London Transport.
Trains are certainly productive of the most noise on the highway; they cause an objectidnable rumbling, much vibration, screech at corners and grind when braking. If only for these reasons, their replacement by quieter and smoother-running vehicles would be hailed with joy, not only by other road users, hut by all those who occupy buildings in their proximity, either as business premises or habitations.
Greater. Interest in Fares Committees Needed
ALL tho fares committees have now voted in favour of their recognition by the Traffic Commissioners, at whose request they were formed, and have, in general, approved the recommendations of a meeting of coach operators, held in November lat, for the expediting of variations in coach fares. It is to be hoped that the Commissioners will see their way to pay closer regard than in the past to the proposals of the committees, which represent the considered views of the operators concerned.
• • For the new machinery to function effectively, however, greater interest in the work of the committees must be shown by coach owners. Indeed, the chairman of a fares committee recently remarked that it was dontful whether any useful purpose could be served by keeping it in existence unless more operators were prepared . to attend meetings and assist by stating their opinions on the various matters discussed.
The work of the committees is of great value to the industry and should undoubtedly be perpetuated, but the Commissioners cannot be expected to act on the recommendations of an unrepresentative meeting. If coach operators wish the Commissioners to assist them, they must first help themselves.
It has been suggested that the Commissioners shonld accept the variations of fares recommended by the committees and that the onus of proving them to be -uneconomic should be placed upon objectors. If the proposals were representative of the views of those immediately concerned, such procedure would undoubtedly facilitate the hearing of applications and should receive serious ceinsideration by the Commissioners.
Bad Roads Cause Accidents
IN a letter from the Roads Improvement Associa tion to-the Minister of Health, it is pointed out that the fundamental cause of road accidents is the out of date and inadequate road system, and the neglect Of public authorities to construct new roads or adapt existing. ones to the requirements of modern traffic. Considering the demands upon our highways, Britain has the worst road system in the world.
The Association suggests to the Minister that the Highway Code should be followed by a Code to be observed byroad authorities, and that, as in the case of the road user, appropriate penalties should be imposed for non-observance.
Many of the points and criticisms raised are practical and constructive. It is, for instance, suggested that it is monstrous that a road user should be penalized for driving at more than 30 m.p.h.. whilst an owner of property may erect buildings or fences, authorized by the local authorities, in such positions that they create new blind. corners.
The suggested Highways Authorities Code should lay down rules-as to the design of corners, the provision of footpaths, removal of bends and obstructions which obscure the view necessary to public safety, the layout of road junctions, the provision of fly-over bridges and of "pull-ins" for buses and coaches.
Municipal Bus Transport Growing INFORMATIVE facts are to be deduced from a 'study of the unique analysis of municipal bus fleets published in this issue ; one of the most striking is the marked progress being made by the oil-engined vehicle. On the whole, municipalities are keen to keep their equipment up to date, particularly so when the ratepayers are personally involved, as with public-service vehicles, and they can take a measure of credit for the success of the oiler. The trolleybus, too, is receiving increasing municipal attention, which is not surprising when one remembers its value for using part of the output of power stations at off-load periods.
Several causes have restricted the bus activities of private operators, but our analysis, when contrasted with that of a year ago, seems to suggest that saturation point in the municipal field has not been reached.