AUTOCAi 22 February 1968

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22 FEBRUARY 1968 vor 128 No3758

Editor Ocruty Edho, A.rlrtrnt Edltoi Faatr,]ar Editot

Sport Editot

Asdrt nt Tachnlcll Edlto,

Edltorial

Mldhnd Edhd

Art Edhor Aslstant Mrnchclt.r Ofn6 Spoclsl Contributors

M.nlglng Dlrucrot

MAUBICE A. 8MITH, OFC PETER OABNIEB LEONARD AYTOI{ STUAST BIAOON INItIE6 IiELANO OEOFFREY HOWARD,

ESdEnd, ACGI, GtMcchE

JOHN DAVEY GRAHAM ROBSON, MAlOxon) MARTIN LEWIS MICHAEL SCARLETI WARREN ALLPORT

EDWARD EVES

HOWASD VYSE JOHN HAWKINS

HAROLD HOLT. AMIML ATIAE|

RONALD BARKER ROGER HUNTINGTON. ASAE I OCtfr it) EOIN YOUNG (Sport)

H. N, PS|AU[X, rr8f

MAIiI FEATURES TORY MOTOBING POLICY VISITING IRELAND? SOUTH.WEST IRELAND NORTH-WEST IRELAND FERRY TABLES FLY AND HIRE? TEST: VW 15OO SEMI-AUTOMATIC TEST: FIAT 85O IDROCONVERT PROFILE: DEREK BELL LOOK OUTI 1O YEARS WITH 2*-L|TRE RTLEY TEST: OPEL RALLYE KADETT

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REGUIAR ITEMS OISCONNECTED JOTTTNGS THE $PORT NEW PRODUCTS STBAIGHT FFOM THE GRID PtclrvEEr NEWS AND VIEWS TNADE AND INDUSTRY CORRESPONDENCE NEW CAR PBICES Last pagee bofore back cover

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ITEXT WEEK'S ISSUE FEATUBES_P 60 COVER: Upper Lake, Killarney. Co. Kerry, lreland.

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A MATTER OF POLICY

FIRST, we had better make it clear once again that we as a journal have no time for party politics. VVe all know what the Labour Government will and will not do for motorists -we are having to put up with it right now. we also know what the late----and not very much lamented--Con- , servative Government did and did not do. Recently we asked the Conservative Party Shadow Minister a lot of questions over lunch, and he has been good enough to send some answers in essay form, summing up what he told us.

This is all printed overleaf----.rrrrritten down in evidence, you might say----and insofar as the measures are favourable to our readers we shall want to see them carried out if and when Mr. Peter Walker and his colleagues are in a position to call the tune. We ourselves readily go on record over several of his subjects; we give three instances: We do not object to breath tests-those demanded for good reason, that is, and not at random. And we do think that Mrs. Castle was right to tackle drink and driving very firmly indeed. We are very concerned about the doubts and anomalies of the tests, and think they should be sorted out and clarified quickly. We regard the present arrangement in the same light as imposing a speed limit but allowing only polac€ cars to fit speedometers. We are not in favour of automatic disqualification for a first positive breathalyser offence-nor for three offences under the adding-up scheme for other indictable transgressions. Disqualification in nearly every case--+ut the use of the court's discretion in the very few that demand special consideration.

On another controversial subject, we repeat our acceptbnce of an overall 70 mph speed limit for two-way road's; but we want appreciably higher "advisory" limits on motorways. And we want much stricter control of parking, but not by meters, to reduce dangers and increase traffic flow.

As a general policy, we would like to see a complete change of heart by transport ministers---{rom imposing more and more restrictions to a realization that cars and road transport are here to stay and that given reasonable freedom to develop they are fully competitive and efficient. It is essential that they are accepted, and planned for on the long term with breadth of vision and courage. Every- thing left undone costs more in terms of effort and money when eventually it has to be tackled. And, in the interven- ing period, frustration and inefficiency build up.

ls this generation of politicians going to leave roads and transport systems in the same sorry state as that in which they found them---even allowing for a war? As things are going, they look like leaving them even worse.