MoT MOTOR TRACTOR PROPOSALS DISCLOSED
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TWO proposals on brake efficiencies for motor tractors and motor locomotives operated under the Construction and Use Regulations have been put forward by the MoT.
Mr. G. Turvey, Traders Road Transport Association assistant secretary, disclosed this fact at a "sell-out" meeting of members in Newcastle upon Tyne on Tuesday.
The one proposal, he said, meant higher standards with inevitable conversion costs —but faster operation; the other, lower standards, similar conversion costs—but no speed benefits.
The detailed proposals:—
(A) Effective January 1, 1969: Minimum braking standards of .5 and .25g—with a parking brake efficient enough to hold a vehicle on a 1.65 gradient—and a simultaneous increase from 20 or 30 m.p.h. (as at present) to 40 m.p.h.
Or (B—same date) lower interim standards—probably in line with those which will apply to heavy motor cars and motor cars—but speed limits as now.
Standard lists urgency Mr. Turvey said TRTA members appeared to favour the interim standard: many vehicles in use now would not attain the hither standards.
No proposals had been made so far for vehicles operating under the Special Types order.
Mr. Turvey stressed that there was still "a great deal of work" to be done on standard lists. If plating was to start on July 1, 1968, these "must be available to all operators by the end of this year at the very latest. Operators cannot be expected to make decisions on less than six months' notice of the relevant facts". The TRTA was still pressing the MoT to produce the lists in two parts—older-vehicles section first.
On enforcement, Mr. Turvey said that linking the test certificate to road fund applications seemed the most satisfactory measure —but the Ministry's intentions were not clear here.