Builders go for security
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by Guy Sheppard • Truck manufacturers are set to fit immobilisers as standard fitting to combat the rise in vehicle thefts.
A committee representing all the UK's major manufacturers has agreed to make security a higher priority following consultations with police and the Home Office.
They also plan to build in other security measures, including better locking systems and vehicle identification systems on chassis rails.
Last month a survey published by the RAC and Road Haulage Association, found that more than 10 trucks are being stolen every day (CM 22-29 March). Nick Smith, homologation and legislation manager for Leyland Da( Trucks, says the company is examining ways to upgrade basic immobilisers to meet individual customer requirements. "Hopefully, the basic system would be built into the price of the truck and would be fairly cheap to do," he says.
It is not clear if the cost of any new security devices will be met by manufacturers or passed on to buyers. UK hauliers have traditionally been reluctant to invest in security devices because of the costs involved, but this has helped to keep UK trucks among the cheapest in Europe.
The Tracker device, which costs £415 and enables police to locate stolen vehicles, is only fitted to around 30 of the new Leyland Daf trucks sold each month—less than 5% of the total—because buyers choose to save money rather than invest in better security.