Page 378 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

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TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT

Report by Mr. J. L. Morris, Transport Officer.
The usual annual increase in the total number of vehicles, on maintenance charge, was not
maintained during the year. There were 179 vehicles on charge on 31st December, 1956,
compared with 215 at the end of 1955. This drop in numbers was due to the following reasons :
(1) Messrs. D. and C. and William Press Limited, Contractors to the Government, disposed
of the majority of their vehicles, which were all maintained by this Department and (2) The
Government sold many light vehicles, which had previously been used on a permanent basis by
Government employees, who elected to receive an allowance in lieu of Transport provided.
There was, however, a large increase once again in the number of items of mechanical equipment
maintained by the Department, there being a total of 101 items on charge at the end of 1956,
compared with 75 the end of the previous year.
Delivery times of vehicles ordered from the United Kingdom are becoming increasingly
longer, due to labour problems in the factories, and shipping difficulties. Several new vehicles,
ordered in March, were still not received at the end of the year. With these uncertain delivery
periods, it is becoming most difficult to maintain the correct level of the number of vehicles
required by Departments. Deliveries of mechanical plant and equipment ex works, appeared
to be improving, but these items of course are also affected by lack of shipping space.

Veliicles and Equipment
The Government fleet is now in a better condition than ever before, but room still exists
for many improvements. The standard of driving unfortunately does not appear to improve,
indeed it tends to deteriorate. Lack of common care and interest in the vehicle is prevalent
among the drivers employed by the Government, and little can be done by this Department to
rectify this state of affairs. Unless drivers are brought under one- central control, this situ­
ation will continue to exist. It was recommended in a previous report that drivers should be
in the employ and under the supervision of, this Department, and it is again stressed that until
this is brought about, vehicles and equipment will continue to be abused. The more common
forms of ill usage continue to be as follows :
(a) Neglect of Vehicle. This is represented in many ways and is responsible to a large
extent for the high maintenance costs. Many drivers do not carry out the simple maintenance
tasks required of them, and as a result vehicle wear and deterioration is accelerated. As men­
tioned above, the answer to this problem is stricter control over drivers, administered by one
person.

(b) Overloading. Some of the worst cases of overloading are noticeable among the
smaller passenger vehicles and pick-ups. 86-in. Land Rovers, for example, designed to carry
a maximum of seven people, including driver, have been observed on many occasions carrying
twelve/thirteen persons. This practice, apart from the damage caused to the vehicle, i.e.,
broken and weakened springs, broken shock absorbers, premature engine wear, etc., is for
obvious reasons very dangerous, and could well result in injury or loss of life. In some cases
with lorries also, no consideration is given to the weight factor, the vehicle being loaded to its
full volumettic capacity regardless of the weight or type of the material.

(c) Traffic Accidents. All traffic accidents cannot be included under the heading “ill
usage,’* but it is felt that the majority of accidents in which Government vehicles were involved
during the year could have been avoided had common care been exercised by drivers. Although
there were less vehicles on charge at the end of the year, there was a sharp rise in the number of
accidents over 1955 figures. The Traffic Branch of the State Police has on several occasions
reported to this Department, instances of Government vehicles not in a roadworthy condition
at the time of being involved in an accident. In each instance it was found that the driver
had not reported the defects, which had developed since the vehicle was last in workshops,
and which in many cases were thought to be a contributory factor towards the cause of the
accident. General driving faults in relation to road safety are, excessive speeds, failing to
give proper signals, failing to reduce speed when entering a major road, unsafe overtaking and
slow reaction to emergencies.