Changes in Catil Regulations, 5
Page 54
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REGULATION 33 of the Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1 978 requires that all motor vehicles be constructed so that no avoidable smoke or vapour is emitted. Regulation 109 makes it an offence for any person to use, cause or permit the use of a motor vehicle on a road from which any smoke, visible vapour, grit, sparks, ashes, cinders, or oily substance is emitted if the emission causes, or is likely to cause, damage to any property or injury to any person.
It should be noted that in this section danger or damage or potential danger of damage must be proved if a prosecution is to succeed. Danger would be caused if exhaust smoke was so dense that the visibility of overtaking drivers was impaired. Damage could be caused if black smoke from an exhaust impinged on a lady's summer dress.
Tidswell v Llewellyn (1965) is an interesting case on this subject. The defendant operated the tipper gear of a lorry in a private drive. Oil escaped from the hydraulic ram in the tipper mechanism and ran on to the lower part of the bodywork and the chassis, but when the body was lowered the oil stopped leaking from the ram. The defendant then drove the lorry on to the road when oil dripped from the vehicle on to the road surface, causing slippery conditions. It was held on appeal that an offence was committed and that it was incorrect to say that the emission took place on the drive only and not on the road. The emission which started in the drive continued along the road.
Excess fuel devices for facilitating cold starting on diesel engines must have their operating levers in such a position that they cannot be operated by anyone riding on the vehicle, This regulation does not apply if the excess fuel device does not cause the engine to be supplied with excess fuel after the engine has started or if it does not cause any increase in the smoke emitted from the vehicle (Regulation 34).
All engines fitted to vehicles manufactured before July 1, 1971, other than two-stroke engines, must be designed so that crankcase fumes are prevented from escaping into the atmosphere except through the combustion chamber of the engine. In practice this means that the crankcase is vented to the carburettor inlet so that any fumes coming from the crankcase are sucked into the engine (Regulation 35).
Diesel engines on motor vehicles first used on or after April 1, 1973, and not manufactured before October 1, 1972, must be of a kind for which a type test certificate has been issued indicating that the exhaust from the engine does not exceed the acceptable upper limit of exhaust gas capacity as laid down in Clause 7 of the British Standard Specification for the Performance of Diesel Engines for Road Vehicles (BS AU 141a — 1971).
This Regulation does not apply to a land tractor, industrial tractor, works truck or engineering plant with an engine having not more than two cylinders; to a Perkins 6,354 engine manufactured before April 1, 1973, or to a vehicle displaying an approval mark (Eli) 24/1.30.
Regulation 38 brings back memories of Foden and Sentinel steamers because it requires every vehicle using solid fuel to be fitted with "an efficient appliance for the purpose of preventing the emission of sparks or grit and a tray or shield to prevent ashes a cinders falling on to the road."
Every conceivable subject is dealt with by the C and U Regulatic — closets, urinals, lavatory basins and sinks are covered Regulation 39. It states that no vehicle must be equipped witf closet or urinal, the contents of which can be discharged directly to a road.
Except in the case of a living van, every closet or urinal m empty into a tank which is efficiently ventilated by a pipe, the out of which is outside the vehicle. Closet and urinal tanks must cont. a non-inflammable and non-irritant chemical which is an efficil deodorant and germicide. Lavatory basins or sinks must not dr into any closet or urinal or into their tanks.
Motor vehicles must be equipped with lights and reflectors day so that they can be legally driven on a road at night. T regulation does not apply if there are no lamps fitted to the vehi (Regulation 41).
All heavy motor cars and motor cars first used on or after Janu 1, 1968, which are not passenger vehicles, land tractors, d purpose vehicles, works trucks or pedestrian-controlled vehic must carry manufacturers' plates securely fixed in a conspicui and readily accessible position.
Locomotives and motor tractors first used on or after April 1973, which are not land locomotives or land tractors, indust tractors, works trucks,_ engineering plant or pedestrian-control vehicles or a vehicle manufactured before October 1, 1972, required to carry plates in a similar manner.
Trailers manufactured on or after January 1,1968, which exci 1,020 kg (a trifle over 1 ton) must be similarly equipped but following trailers are exempt: trailers not constructed to carry a other than an appliance or apparatus permanently fitted to it i with a total weight not exceeding 2,290 kg (2.254 tons, roughly cwt); living vans not exceeding 2,040 kg (a little over 2 tc unladen weight and fitted with pneumatic tyres; a works trailer; ; one or two other odd vehicles. A converter dolly, which I intern deal with in a later article, must also carry a manufacturer's plat Plates for motor vehicles must show the manufacturer's nai the vehicle type, engine type and power, chassis or serial numl number of axles, maximum axle weight for each axle, maxim gross weight, maximum train weight, maximum weight in G Britain for each axle, maximum gross weight in Great Britain,
It is necessary for the maximum axle weight and the maxim axle weight in Great Britain both to be included because manufacturer's design weight may be greater than that permi. by law in this country but allowed in a country to which the veh may be exported. Particulars to be showQ on trailer plates are similar but, of course, there is no reference to engine type power.
As an alternative to the plates described above, one comp]) with EEC requirements specified in an annex to the Cou Directive 76/ 1 1 4 / EEC of December 18, 1975, will suffice.
Manufacturer's plates do not take the place of and must no confused with Ministry Plates, which I will discuss in a future arti