Increased Weight Limits
Page 35
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APOWERFUL plea that the limit of total weight for a four-wheeled'vehicle for the conveyance of goods should be raised from 12 tons to 14 tons was made in our issue dated March 10th, and in • the leading article on this subject we wrote the following:—"We ask the Minister of Transport seriously to consider the vital importance of raising the present limit to 14 .tons-rireferably as a general rule, but at least in respect of vehicles licensed before January 1st, 1932."
On April 21st we were able to state that this increase would probably be permitted in the case of steam wagons, and now the Commercial Motor Users Association has been informed that the Ministry of Transport will shortly issue new regulations providing that the total weight of existing four-wheeled steam wagons is to be increased from 12 tons to 14 tons, provided that the maximum speed does not exceed 12. m.p.h. In the case of steam vehicles registered after January 1st, 1932,. • the laden-weight limit • will be increased from -12 tons . to 13 tons, provided that pneumatic tyres be fitted on all wheels. • This is certainly a move in the right direction, but it is not sufficiently farreaching. There exist many internal.combustio-nengined vehicles which cannot now be .run with the loads for which they were designed, and it is not quite fair that such an invidious distinction should be made between these vehicles and those driven by steam power. We again urge upon the-Minister of Transport the necessity of extending his new regulations to cover these other vehicles. We fully realize the importance of keeping maximum loads -within reasonable bounds, but except in cases where the continued operation of particular, classes ma chi ne constitutes a danger, every consideration should be given to 'them, with a view to reducing to the minimum the hardship already inflicted.
There is another factor.
The unladen weight of the average four-wheeled steam wagon is about 8 tons, and with the proposed increase it will be able to carry 11 tons. The tare weight of a six-wheeled ,steam wagon is ,about .11 tans,. anti if the weight limit be retained at 19, tons, the maximum, legal lead will -be only .8 tons.
It . wouldgreatly . en courage operators • if the 2-ten increase could also apPly• to the multi-Wheeler. • The extension of the limit in the'case 'of other six . wheeled vehicles would also encourage their employment and thus help to conserve our roads.
It seems illogical to bene fit only four-wheelers, presumably on account of their lower gross weight ; what really matters • from the road-maintenance point of view is weight per wheel.