KNOW .T AW
Page 52
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Les Oldridge, T Eng(CEI), MIMI, AM IRTE
Changes in C & U Regulations, 4
_Regulations 25 and 26 of the Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1978 deal with "safety glass". Goods vehicles first registered on or after January 1, 1 959 must be fitted with safety glass to the windscreen and to windows on either side of the driver's seat. Passenger and dual-purpose vehicles must have safety glass fitted to the windscreens and all outside windows.
Motor vehicles and trailers manufactured on, or after December 1, 1977 and first used on or after June 1, 1978 and trailer caravans manufactured on or after December 1, 1977 and first used on or after September 1, 1978 are subject to slightly different requirements.
All windscreens and all other windows which are in front of or on either side of the driver must be fitted with safety glass complying with British Standards Specification No 857 or 8282, or with "safety glazing". The latter term is a relatively new one in the C and U Regulations and it covers the materials, other than glass, which hav,e the same safety features as safety glass.
Security vehicles are exempt from the requirements set out in the previous paragraph, but must be fitted with ordinary safety glass or safety glazing. Security vehicles are defined in the Regulations as vehicles constructed for the use of persons who are likely to require protection from any criminal offence involving violence or for carrying bullion, money, jewellery, documents or other goods likely to require protection from any criminal offence.
The use of temporary windscreens to replace a broken one is now controlled by these regulations. The temporary screen must be made of safety glazing and can only be used during the time the vehicle is being driven from the place where the breaking occurred to premises where a new screen is to be fitted or to complete the journey in the course of which the break occurred.
In recent times motor cars have been fitted with tinted glass and, quite obviously, if this restricts the vision of the driver to any marked degree, then -danger is caused. A fairly new requirement of the C and U Regulations deals with this hazard for it is now laid down that safety glass and safety glazing used on the newer vehicles must have visual transmission of light not less than 70 per cent when measured perpendicular to the surface, in accordance with the procedure laid down in British Standard 857 or 5282.
This restriction on the use of tinted glass does not apply to windows through which the driver cannot see the road ahead (eg, side windows) or to ambulance windows which are not wholly or partly in front of or on either side of the driver's seat. Public service vehicles, goods vehicles, locomotives or motor tractors may be fitted with tinted glass except in windows wholly or partly in front of or on either side of the driver's seat, rear windows or windows forming part of a door giving access to or from the vehicle.
Windscreen wipers and washers
All motor vehicles with windscreens must be fitted with efficient automatic windscreen wipers unless the driver can see the road ahead without looking through the screen, eg, by opening the screen or looking over it. The wipers must clear the windscreen so that the driver can see the road in front of him and the road in front of the off and near sides of the vehicle.
Vehicles requiring windscreen wipers must also be fitted with windscreen washers "capable of clearing, in conjunction with tho.5. windscreen wipers, the area of the screen swept by the wipers mud or other similar deposits."
Audible warning instruments Every motor vehicle must be fitted with an instrument capable giving audible warning of its approach or position. Audible warnir instruments, horns in every day parlance, must sound a continuoi and uniform note which is not strident, when fitted to vehicles fir used on or after 1st August 1973. The warning instrument must n be a bell, going, siren or two-tone horn unless it is fitted to one of tl emergency services listed below.
motor vehicles used for fire brigade, ambulance or polic purposes fire salvage vehicles, Forestry Commission or local authority vehicles used fc fighting fires, bomb disposal vehicles, Blood Transfusion Service Vehicles, HM Coastguard vehicles, National Coal Board vehicles used for mine rescue, Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue. Service vehicles, Royal National Lifeboat Institution vehicles used for th purpose of launching lifeboats.
Horns must not be sounded on a stationary vehicle on a road any time except at times of danger due to another moving vehicle c or near the road. Horns must not be sounded on a moving vehicle c a restricted road between 23.30 hours and 07.00 hours if following morning. These restrictions do not apply if the horn sounded for the purpose of raising the alarm as to the theft of if vehicle or its contents or in the case of a public service vehicle I summon assistance for the driver, the conductor or an inspector.
Motor vehicles carrying goods for sale from the vehicle may b fitted with an instrument, other than one of the emergency type, ft informing the public that goods are for sale. This covers the ic cream van chimes but the concession is not limited to that type c trade or to chimes. Other tradesmen with goods for sale could tak advantage of it and could equip their vehicle with some other fon of instrument.
Every motor vehicle fitted with an internal combustion engin must be fitted with a silencer, expansion chamber or other cor trivance for reducing as far as may be reasonable the noise made b the exhaust gases. Silencers must be maintained in good an efficient working order and must not be altered in such a way th the noise caused by the exhaust gases is made greater by th alteration. (Regulations 30 and 106).
All motor vehicles fitted with a spark ignition engine first usec on or after April 1, 1974 and not manufactured before October 1 1 973 must display in a conspicuous and readily accessible positio the approval mark which relates to approval respecting radi interference suppression.