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Tachographs being fitted
Page 87
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It would be difficult to fault the facts given in "Hours dilemma faces new Minister" (CM, June 20). However, there is a danger that readers could be misled into thinking that a significant proportion of vehicles in the original six countries covered by 543/69 .have still not had tachographs fitted. This is simply not the case. As far as I .am aware, all new vehicles are now being fitted with tachographs although Italy missed the January 1, 1975 starting date. The vehicles not fitted then had to be retrofitted by the end of June 1975.
There is a continuing difficulty with the retrofitting of the relevant vehiCles in the dangerous loads category because of the delay in agreement about ADR regulations. This difficulty is being overcome by installing tachographs to the vehicles as defined by the national laws of the countries concerned.
In these circumstances it can honestly be stated that only a very small proportion of the vehicles 'covered by 543/69 were late and the whole operation of installation can already be judged to have been a remarkable success.
Regarding this country the same problems could occur. The installation of tachographs to new vehicles is unlikely to prove difficult but time is running short for vehicles carrying dangerous goods. The problems are by no means insurmountable, but in any case 'cannot be used as a reason for delay when like the rest of the EEC the vast majority of vehicles can and will be fitted with tachographs on time.
One final point : it is interesting to note that on the same page of Commercial Motor it is suggested that coaches should not be permitted to use the outside lane on 'motorways. Tachographs fitted to such coaches would probably have greater impact on the accident rate and would still allow coach drivers to overtake the slower heavy commercial vehicle's already occupying the centre lane. The tachograph would also indicate vehicle speeds, deceleration rates and other valuable information should there be an accident.
F. KAY, Director and Genera/ Manager, Lucas Kienzle Instruments Ltd Birmingham.