Next Week
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ON May 1 it becomes legal to operate at 38 tonnes gross combination weight in the United Kingdom, and we shall be monitoring the effects of this in our news pages as the year goes by. In addition, we shall support this coverage with a number of features. The first, next week in CM, is a five-page road test, at the new weight, of a turbocharged Seddon Atkinson; photographs are by Brian Weatherley. We obtained special dispensation from the Department of Transport to test at this weight — for the last time. From May — no more!
• We have a number of items concerning safety and security next week. Accident investigator Harry Wilkins is writing for us again. Why does jack-knifing occur? Why do roll-over accidents happen? What can be done about them? Harry gives expert opinion, next week. By the way, although around 450 artics were reported to have jack-knifed in 1980, in some of these cases it was really trailer swing . .. Read what this means: next week.
• We have another CM Special Offer for operators next week. It's a window lens from Vanguard and its wide view reduces the risk of blind-spot accidents. See what you think of the device when you read about it in CM next week. You may be surprised by the modest price.
• What do operators consider the most important factors to take into account when buying new vehicles? Silly question? Obvious answers? True, manufacturers' claims come bottom of the poll when we ran a survey. But in some cases the answers were surprising. All is revealed: next week.
• A number of foreign coach manufacturers have found that the Public Service Vehicle (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) Regulations 1981 have given them some expensive problems before their coaches can be sold in Britain. Noel Millier looks at the Regulations and decides whether they are more complicated than necessary.
• Noel is also going to the premier British coach rally at Brighton and gives in CM next week a full report of the action.