know the law
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by Les Oldricige, AMIRTE, MIMI
Some new law
Since October 1 1972 ALL motor vehicles fitted with windscreens must be equipped with windscreen washers and in most cases with, at least, dual windscreen wipers. This has been the requirement on new vehicles since October 1 1969 but now vehicles of all ages, with minor exceptions, must be so equipped.
The law on the subject is contained in Regulations 19 and 20 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1969, which require the windscreen of every motor vehicle to be fitted with automatic windscreen wipers capable of clearing the screen so that the driver has an adequate view of the road directly in front of the vehicle and to the front of the near and off sides. Quite obviously this entails almost all the area of the screen to be wiped — necessitatini two, or perhaps three, wipers. Wipers are not required if it is Possible to open the windscreen so that the driver can get a view of the front without looking through it.
Since October 1 1972 there must also be a windscreen washer or washers, which when used in conjunction with the windscreen wipers, can clear the area of the windscreen swept by the wipers of mud or similar deposits. Elderly wagons without dual wipers and washers must have them fitted in order to comply with the law. The regulation concerning "washers" does not apply to land tractors, vehicles which are incapable of exceeding 20 mph on the level or for vehicles used as stage carriages.
The law concerning reflectors on trailers and semi-trailers has recently been revised and from July 1 1972 ALL trailers, whether articulated or drawbar, must be fitted with an improved-type triangular reflector. The new type must carry the specification number of the British Standard for reflex Reflectors for Vehicles, namely AU 40 followed by a marking L HI or L HIA and with the registered trade name or mark of the manufacturer. This regulation now applies to all trailers including arties, and so it may be well worth while to cheek through a fleet to ensure this law is being complied with.
When discussing the new law concerning the disposal of poisonous substances in CM in June of this year, I pointed out that part of the Act dealing with this subject was not in force at that time. The Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act (Commencement) Order 1972 remedies this situation and has brought into force the whole of the Act since August 3 1972. The Poisonous Waste (Notification of Removal or Deposit) Regulations 1972 came into force on the same day.
It is now necessary for anyone removing or depositing poisonous material to notify the local authority and the river, authority before doing so. Section 3 of the Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act 1972 contains this law and it also provides two categories of exemptions from the requirement to give notice: (a) an unqualified exemption for waste which is specified as not being so poisonous, noxious or polluting and (b) qualified exemption for waste which is of a prescribed description and is deposited in a prescribed manner.
A schedule to the new Regulations specifies waste which is to fall within the former category if it does not contain any hazardous concentration or quantity of poisonous, noxious or polluting substance. The Schedule lists such items as household waste, waste arising in the use of premises as a retail shop or office, builder's rubbish, waste consisting of paper, plastics, wood, clays, pottery, various metals, rubber, coal, coke, cosmetics and a host of other material. Two exempted items of particular interest to persons in charge of garage workshops are "any waste produced in the course of the dry cutting or shaping of metals or the cleansing of intercepting devices designed to prevent the release of oil or grease".
Emergencies Regulation 4 relates to waste which can be deposited without giving notice to the authorities provided it is deposited in prescribed manner or in prescribed circumstances. It relates to farm chemicals and radioactive waste deposited as prescribed in the Regulations or poisonous waste deposited in an emergency. Emergency is defined in the Regulations as "a case where a person removing or depositing waste has reasonable cause to believe that circumstances exist which are likely to endanger life or health, or cause damage to property, unless the removal or deposit is carried out without delay".
Section 4 of the main Act, which relates to operators of commercial tips, is now in force and requires any person carrying on a trade or business in the course of which he operates any site as a refuse tip to inform the authorities, not later than three days after poisonous waste has been deposited on the tip, of the nature and quantity of the waste, identity of the person who brought it to the tip and his employer. Prior notice to the authorities by the owner of the tips that waste is to be dumped is not required if three days before the waste is deposited a copy of the notice given to the authorities by the person dumping the waste is received by him. Details of this notice must be given to the authorities with the other details listed above.