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Braking Regulations
MBE Minister of Transport has .1 issued amended regulations in respect of braking for motor vehicles. The title of the publication is "The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 2) Provisional Regu
lations, 1931." The date of issue is November 5th, and copies of the leaflet can be obtained from any of the branches of His Majesty's Stationery Office at the price of id. each. These regulations came into force on the date in question and remain in force until the Statutory _Balks shall be made ; at present the regulation is one of the Provisional Rules and Orders for 1931.
The modifications are of considerable . importance. It is now permissible for a heavy motorcar to be equipped with two entirely independent and efficient braking systems or with one, such system having two independent means for .operation, in each case Eli) designed and constructed that notwithstanding the failure of any part of the system, • there shall still be available braking on no fewer than half the number of wheels, such as to permit bringing the vehicle to rest within a reasonable distance under the most adverse conditions. In all cases it is necessary that the brakes operoted by one of the systems of control shall be applicable by direct mechanical .action without the intervention of any hydraulic, electric or pneumatic device.
Where only one braking system is installed, all the wheels shall be affected by one of the systems of control, and at least one of the means for operation shall be of the direct mechanical type, not working through the transmission system, and shall affect no fewer than half the number of wheels.
Where two independent systems are Installed on a vehicle registered on or after January 15th of this year, at least one of the systems shall act directly, and not through the transmission gear, on at least half the number of wheels.
When a heavy motorcar has more than four wheels and the drive is taken to all non-steering wheels, without the use of a longitudinal differential, it will suffice if the brakes of one system act directly on the wheels of one axle and the brakes in the other system act on all the other driving wheels.
Important points in these regulations are to the effect that not more than one front wheel shall be taken into account in reckoning half the number of the wheels of the vehicle, whilst braking systems shall not be deemed to be entirely independent if they are capable of being applied by the same means for operation. As regards shafts, whether these be fixed or rotating and whether in the operation System or merely acting as supports, they shall be deemed to be part of the system.
It is provided that where there are two systems fitted to a heavy motorcar registered before June 30th, 1932, such systems shall not be deemed to be other than independent, by reason of the faet that any shaft is used directly or indirectly as a support or means for attachment for both systems. A brake anchor pin is not part of the system.
As regards steam vehicles not used for passenger carrying, the engine shall be deemed to be an independent braking system, so long as another entirely' independent system is available and the engine is capable of being reversed and, in the case of a machine registered on or after Jaunary 1st, 1927, is incapable of being disconnected from the non-steering wheels, except by the sustained effort of the driver.