Defects in Acts and Regulations (IV.)—
Page 16
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con.
Axle-weights and Units Thereof.
The Local Government Board evidently felt some what ashamed of the axle-weight scheme, for they issued a Blue Book, as a supplement to the Order giving the axle-weight for every I in:width of tire for wheels of a diameter varying from 2 ft. to 5i ft. The real meaning of the Act appears to be : (1) A trailer-wheel tire must he at least 3 ins. wide;
(2) The tire must also be of sufficient width to carry the axle-weignt.
This width is determined by the fact that every 4 in. of tire-width is allowed to carry a given number of hundredweights of load, which varies according to the diameter of the wheel. The number of hundred-. weights which go to the in. of tire-width, for a given wheel-diameter, is called the " unit of axle-weight." The following is a concrete example :--A trailer fitted with back wheels of 3 ft. 6 in. diameter, and with tires of 3 ins, in width. The unit of axle-weight allowed for such a wheel isS cwt. ; therefore, the load the trailer may carry upon that axle b six times 8 cwt. (there being six times +, in. in the width of the tire), or 2 tons 8 cwt. This section undoubtedly requires modifying, and putting into a very much more simple form—Artieles VI and XI.
Four Tons forua Trailer-axle.
Article XI (3) states that the axle-weight of any trailer shall not exceed four tons. This provides an ample margin of weight, in view of the fact that the usual weight of a trailer is between 25 and 30 cwt. The tractive power of a heavy motorcar is limited not only by the horse-power, but also by the adhesive limit of the wheels on the roads ; kin practice it is found impossible to take full advantage of the weights permitted, except under the most-favourable circumstances. Section 4 'provides for a trailer's being fitted with suitable and sufficient springs.
No Trailers in Passenger Service.
Section 5 says that a heavy motorcar, which is used either as a stage carriage or for the conveyance of passengers for gain or hire, shall not draw a trailer. Providing that the' speed limits were identical with those specified in the case of vehicles drawing goods, it is not clear why a vehicle may not draw a trailer because it is carrying passengers. In country districts, the ,use of a trailer for carrying market produce, while the 'vendors ride in the heavy motorcar, might prove a valuable adjunct. A few such equipments would replace a large number of horses, which are at present taken unnecessarily from their farm work.
Checking the Loads.
Article XII provides for ascertainment of weights by officers of councils. The article gives the dulyauthorized officer of any council the power to cause the driver of a heavy motorcar to drive his machine on to a weighbridge for the purpose of ascertaining the axle-weights of the machine ; . or, the dulyauthorized officer may take possession of the machine and cause any other person to drive the heavy motorcar to the weighbridge. The only stipulation is that the vehicle must be within half-a-mile of the weighbridge at. the time its load is challenged and the vehicle is deflected from its course. The driver has to render any assistance which the officer may require in performing the above. The best that can be said about this zection is that it displays the sublime confidence which our law-makers have in "the duly-authorized officer." The law plainly lays down that the officer of the council, e.g., the bold "Robert," may take the driver off a heavy motorcar, put any man in his place whom he may select. and " march " off with his precious capture for half-a-mile, leaving the driver (and his mate) gaping, at his intrepidity.
048 " Robert " has the consolation of knowing that, if he eventually reaches his destination without a mishap, he is not called upon to return the vehicle to the point where he commandeered it. The Act does not even saddle him with any responsibility as to the condition he must leave it in, and presumably the driver must be thankful to get back on to his " mount " at all, and ask no question as to any missing paint or other blemishes which " Robert ' may have conferred upon it, in the course of pursuing his duties,
There is no time limit to the proceedings, and the -urgency of the work the wagon is performing is beyond any consideration.
Worse for the Steam Wagon.
If the officer decides to leave a, trailer behind, and take the driver and his mate, who is responsible for any claims made against the owner of the trailer for obstruction, etc.,, further complications may ensue. Supposing.the driver, While proceeding to the weighbridge, meets with an accident, why should the owner have to pay for it'? Yet it is so. The officer is "on velvet" all the time ; if the axle-weights prove within the legal limit, the owner can claim no compensation for loss of time. No allowance is made for either fuel or water;' in the case of steam. • vehicles, it is clear that this is a very important matter. A steam wagon carries in its tank anything between 10 and 15 cwt. of water.
The Fluctuating Tare.
In proceeding from one water-stop to the next, the total gross weight of a heavy motorcar diminishes probably by from 7 to 12 cwt. from what it was when it started with a full tank of water. Owing to the water-tank's being, suspended behind the back axle of the heavy motorcar, the axle-weight of that axle will vary accordingly: The average dead weight of the heavy motorcar, between watering-stops, would probably be from 4 to 6 cwt. less than with the tank full. These points should be considered by the authorities in weighing vehicles.
The Weight when Recorcica.
When a heavy motorcar is weighed, the official authorized by the council is not obliged to supply the driver with a copy of the results of his investigation, and it is only on the presentation of a summons that the owner may ascertain the results. Should the motorcar break the weighbridge, the owner is afforded no definite protection in the Order against a. claim for damages. The authors of this Order had evidently no expectation of the coming of heavy-motor-vehicle owners.
Fines Irrespective Of Culpability.
Article XIII is another legislative brain-wave ; it gives the authorities the power to fine both the owner and driver for every possible offence under the regulations, no matter whether it is committed by either or. each of the parties concerned. The driver is responsible for seeing that every vehicle he mounts is constructed in every respect in accordance with the Order, likewise the trailer. One can imagine any average steam driver trying to ascertain whether the widths of his trailer-wheel tires were in accordance with Section 2 of Article XI! Did the framers of this Order really think he was familiar with such calculations? If not, why. do they hold him responsible to. the time of a £20 fine? If a driver, in the course of a hundred-mile journey, exceeds the speed limit by the fraction of a mile per hour at any point, the owner is liable for permitting the heavy motorcar to be used in contravention of the Regulations. It sounds all very ridiculous, but it is fact. Fancy inflicting, a fine of £20 on a working-man for a technical offence ! It is clearly time that this paragraph of the Order was overhauled, and brought more into line with common sense.
(To be concluded.)