Segregation of goods vehicles urged
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
("NODS vehicles up to 60 ft. long, ‘..1greater use of automatic transmission, more specialized bodywork, diesel engines in smaller vehicles, and increasing use of single rigidbody tandems are forecast in a report published on Wednesday on "future trends in the design of power-driven road vehicles with particular reference to their use in towns".
The report, "Cars for Cities", is the result of an inquiry set up in June 1964 by the then Minister of Transport, Mr. Ernest Marples. Members of its steering group included Sir George Harriman, Sir Patrick Hennessy, Sir William Lyons and Mr. K. C. Turner.
Advocating segregation of traffic by size,
the report sees advantages to both the operator and the community through segregation of goods vehicles in space—by use of offstreet loading and unloading facilities—or time—and by providing special times for delivery in town centres, especially at night.
In regard to loading and unloading it says that the most efficient working pattern will only be established if the "package" nature of the relationship between vehicle and premises is fully appreciated, both in new building construction and vehicle design.
It suggests that increasing use of mechanical handling technique and premises adapted to night delivery will improve the popularity of night work with containers acting as "night safes". Zinc-air battery-powered
equipment would be needed and engine noise would have to be kept down to an acceptable level. "There are big engineering difficulties in reducing noise in heavy goods vehicles and we think more research should be devoted to this."
On air pollution, the report suggests a possible standard for black smoke emission from diesel engines and an interim limit on carbon monoxide emissions from petrol engines. The steering group comments: "Statutory standards will be necessary to achieve the sort of reductions in pollution for motor vehicles that are now appropriate . and any standards should be kept under review.. . . A limit should be placed on the• amount of carbon monoxide emitted and crankcase fumes should be returned to the inlet side of the engine, as this can achieve a useful reduction in hydro-carbon pollution at little cost".