Q I am thinking of removing the parking brake mechanism from
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one of the front axles of my Bedford VAL six-wheel coach. Can I legally use the vehicle with the parking brake acting only on one of the front wheels?
AThere is nothing in the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1973 or the Public Service Vehicles (Condition of Fitness, Equipment and Use) Regulations 1972 which precludes you from modifying your vehicle as your describe. However, the C and U regs, while requiring the parking brake to restrain only two wheels of a vehicle, impose a condition that it should hold the loaded vehicle stationary on an incline of 1 in 6.25 if it was first used after January 1, 1968.
You should also be aware that if the parking brake on your vehicle forms the secondary brake system required, if it does not have a split braking system, under Regulation 54 of the C and U reg, then it must act on at least half the number of wheels on the vehicles sufficient, under the most adverse conditions, to bring the vehicle to rest within a reasonable distance.
If you do modify the vehicle, you are obliged to inform the Traffic Commissioners of the alteration in accordance with Section 132 of the Road Traffic Act 1960.