AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Vehicle Weights and Sizes Under Review

13th July 1962, Page 36
13th July 1962
Page 36
Page 36, 13th July 1962 — Vehicle Weights and Sizes Under Review
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

APOSSIBLE revision of vehicle weights and dimensions is now being considered by the Government "in view of the increasing cross-Channel traffic in motor vehicles and the prospect of a physical link with the Continent."

Announcing this, Mr. John Hay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, said: "If we come to the conclusion that we can come into line with Continental countries, or make modifications of our rules, we shall."

The Standing Committee on the Road Traffic Bill, which was given this news, was also told by Mr. Hay that" one day" the Government would deal with the problem of goods vehicles displaying plates showing their maximum laden weight. Mr. Hay noted that the Govern7 ment did not need new statutory power to change permitted vehicle weights—it was already there, under the 1960 Road Traffic Act.

Possible revisions were being considered "not least because in 1960 the European Conference of Ministers of Transport broadly accepted certain recommendations for standardizing weights and dimensions for vehicles throughout Europe."

Britain was not committed to accepting these standards, said Mr. Hay, but it was likely that they would become general on the Continent in the next few years..

One of the problems in this country was that, compared with many Continental countries, some of our, roads were narrow, and some of our bridges were not built to carry the very heavy weight which some large vehicles might put on them. However all this was being looked into, and a survey was being made to sec how far these factors operated againsi increases in maximum weights an( dimensions.

ROAD TRAFFIC BILL NOW OVER MAIN HURDLE

THE Road Traffic Bill is now over it main hurdle—the clause by clause examination by a Standing Committee of the Commons.

The measure now goes back to the full House, which will take a look at the amendments inserted since the &con( Reading.

HINT OF CHANGES IN HIGHWAN CODE

SOME changes in the Highway Cod( to bring this country more into line with the Continent were hinted at in the Commons.

"Though it might not be practicable for the United Kingdom to change all it rules to Continental practice, a unifiee code of traffic rules would have advan. tages," said the Minister of Transport.

"I am therefore seeking to arrange foi the United Kingdom to be associate( with the work of the Restricted Group 01 Experts constituted under the European Conference of Ministers of Transport who are preparing the European Highwa] Code."


comments powered by Disqus