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Testing and Plating Legislating for Vehicle Standards

26th February 1965
Page 30
Page 30, 26th February 1965 — Testing and Plating Legislating for Vehicle Standards
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

TESTING, plating, brakes — the problem of the existing vehicle. That was the theme of a talk given at Brighton last week to members of the Sussex area of the Traders Road Transport Association by the assistant secretary, Mr. G. Turvey.

All these matters were under consideration, said Mr. Turvey, and were likely to be the subject of Government action in the foreseeable future. From an administrative and organizational point of view he could see few difficulties in legislating for testing, plating and improved braking standards—provided this was restricted to new vehicles.

It would be quite easy to lay down • realistic standards in connection with the original manufacturer's standard fixed at the time of construction, he said. But there would be great difficulty in agreeing on standards for existing vehicles of differing vintages and varying types. He thought the difficulty for existing vehicles would be accentuated with braking efficiency, for even relatively recent vehicles were hard pressed to meet the 0.5g and 0-25g efficiencies laid down for smaller vehicles and those built to increased weight specifications.

Outlining what could be done about the situation, Mr. Turvey said at the one extreme the facts of life could be ignored and such standards applied to existing vehicles; but this would be inequitable and result only in the disappearance or

a.28 down-rating of many vehicles, including some of the newly registered ones. At the other extreme it would be possible to let the existing vehicles die a natural death and confine the introduction of standards to new vehicles; but this would be too lengthy a process. Clearly a compromise was needed, and he considered the possibility of an agreed period of exemption for vehicles in use, thereby enabling their operators to obtain reasonable use from vehicles or time in which to arrange for them to be up-graded so that they could continue to be used.

Subsidy for Operators?

Commenting on a final alternative— that of converting existing vehicles— Mr. Turvey raised a point of policy. He asked where the liability for conversion should rest. He thought that much would depend on the dates fixed for the attainment of increased standards, and if operators were allowed a carefully phased period in which to make the necessary adjustments, the liability might be placed in their laps. But he wondered if there was not a good case for a Government subsidy, in the same way as there is a subsidy for householders in newly designated smoke-free areas faced with compulsory conversion of their fireplaces. Another possibility that he could see was a reduced standard for existing vehicles. This, he said, would be essential. Of testing, Mr. Turvey said that the T.R.T.A. was considering the Ministry's latest proposals, from which it now appeared almost certain that a testing scheme for commercial vehicles would be based on a system of Ministry testing stations. The T.R.T.A. had always pressed for the inclusion in any scheme of the use of companies' private large fleet facilities where they existed, and it still thought this desirable.

ULSTER ROAD TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION FORMED AROAD Transport Association has been formed in Northern Ireland with Mr. N. E. Harper as founder chairman. Existing transport organizations will support the new body, while retain

ing their individual identities.

The executive of the Association has already decided to have discussions with trade unions about the setting up of a Joint Industrial Council. This is in view of the foreshadowed competitive roadfreight licensing system.

The new Association covers a wide field of transport operators, including general hauliers, milk distributors, furniture removers, ferry operators and many firms engaged in road transport for hire or reward.


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