That is the first point which stands out from an analysis of the test now being prepared from the examiner’s reports.

The analysis is expected to provide valuable information from which all road users can benefit.

Mr. H. Valvona, county road safety officer, who organised the event, said that the size of rear lights could be increased. “From the road safety angle we like to see a big one.”

Machine Faults

In the mechanical inspection full marks were awarded in 13 cases, and the lowest marking was 50 per cent.

The examiners found that quite a number of machines had loose wheels or loose steering heads; a few had bad brakes.

A lot of boys and girls were riding machines too big for them.

Along the road route, which was completely in town, some riders were observed bunching and engaging in conversation; others rode casually with only one hand on the handlebars. In general, however, the riding standard was good.

Many lost marks in a parking test at Spencer Park, where a kerb had been installed by Urban Council workmen. Several bicycles equipped with rests were parked too far from the kerb.

Highway Code

There was also an oral examination in Highway Code knowledge, a few riders, evidently aware that they had not done their best in this, turned up a second time but failed to gain another hearing. In most cases, the examiners thought the children answered difficult questions quite well, and had studied the Highway Code carefully.

Right: No1 Heather Knight is started off on the Rushden schoolchildren’s cycle test by the chairman of the urban council Mr. E. E. Newell. The scene is at the Newton Road School on Tuesday afternoon.

Left: One of the competitors negotiates his way between posts set in the school playground – one of the many tests that had to be attempted.

Mr. E. E. Newell chairman of the Rushden Urban Council dispatched the first rider from Newton Road School. Most of the examiners were drawn from the Northamptonshire Regiment and the R.A.F. depot at Roade.