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Letters to the Editor

22nd September 1961
Page 84
Page 84, 22nd September 1961 — Letters to the Editor
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Need for Lorry Safety Barthrs

WE write and talk a lot in this country about death and vv injury on the roads, but do we do enough quickly? I think we take too long to adopt measures which are obviously necessary. Let me explain, and then get shot down in flames for my cheek.

Press reports indicate to me that 70 per cent. or so of those killed and injured suffer from injuries to the upper part of the body, head and chest. Oh yes, many have other injuries besides, but head and chest stand out.

Now I suggest the basic cause is that when vehicles arc travelling along the road fast, the seriousness of the result is related to the speed. If for any reason the vehicle comes to a sudden and violent stop, the occupants are thrown forward.

In the field of safety belts on vehicles, and in encouraging the public to use them, we are just breaking through. the clouds. It appears that there is no purchase tax on these belts when they are bought apart from the vehicle, and y et a friend of mine has had a Swedish car over 2-1 years and this, when it arrived, was fitted with safety belts, padded dashboard and sun vizor and a safety device on the steering column. Glory be, we are getting somewhere.

Commercial vehicle drivers, and other occupants of cabs, are subject to the danger already mentioned—with the additional serious danger of the load moving forward on to the back of the cab and penetrating it. Many have been killed and injured in this way.

Loads are of many kinds, some more prone to movement than others, and some more difficult to secure. Now it seems to me that in many instances there is need to provide better protection between the driver and the load—an effective protection, which it would be difficult to penetrate or dislodge.

However, as commercial vehicles are taxed on their unladen weight (in 5 cwt. groups) the recent increase in Excise tax has not helped matters. Any additional protection provided would increase the unladen weight, and consequently the tax. This would not be popular with vehicle owners I know, but I have a suggestion which I would like to put forward.

Not Taxable Protective barriers made by reputable firms, varying in size according to the size of the vehicle, should, where fitted to a commercial vehicle, be excluded from the unladen weight of the vehicle for tax purposes.

' Such protective barriers could be made of steel, or some other suitable metal, would extend across the width of the vehicle, be reinforced by ribs and buttresses and the bottom bracket bolted, riveted or welded to the frame.

It could be an optional fitting and provision cauld be made in future lorry design for it. Driving a lorry myself, I feel sure many commercial vehicle drivers would feel safer and happier with such a barrier.

Can we hope to do something with this idea in, say five years?

Stroud, Glos. WILLIAM C. TUCK.

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