Vintage year for safety ideas
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
After several years in which legislation overtook innovation and nothing qualified for the prestigious Don Safety Trophy, 1983 hit the jackpot. Not only was it marked by a large number of suitable entries; the quality was as high as at any time for nearly 20 years.
The winner was to have been announced by Earl Howe, chairman of the adjudicating panel, but he died two days before the event and Alan Baker, a distinguished engineering journalist, took on the duty.
The trophy went to Lucas Girling for the Skidchek MGX anti-lock braking system for trailers. Crane Fruehauf received a pat on the back for adopting the system as standard on its semi-trailers.
Strangely enough, the trophy was first awarded in 1965 for an early attempt at anti-lock braking, which was fitted to the esoteric and costly Jensen FF car.
Volvo Trucks shared the limelight with Lucas Girling and received a replica of the trophy for the Citybus.