Hand Brake Con
Page 33
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troversy Goes On • MEGOTIATIONS on hand-brake' 1 efficiency are continuing between the Ministry of Transport, thc Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the three passenger-transport 'associations. This information is given in the report of the council of the 'Municipal Passenger Transport Association, which was submitted at the annual general meeting of the association at Eastbourne, yesterday.
• Exclusive news of the controversy on hand-brake efficiency was first published in "The Commercial Motor" on November 24, 1950, after the Ministry had notifiedthe •S.M.M.T. and the • passenger-transport associations that extensive tests had been made and certain unsatisfactory results obtained.
ln reply to this letter, the S.M.M.T. notified the Ministry that hand-brake effiainey of 0.3g might be dangerous to
standing passengers and suggested 0.2g as a Safe Maximum retardation for an unladen vehicle on a dry road, the test being made with an approved type of decellerometer.
In reply, the Ministry referred to the recommendations of a 'bus operators' association.contained in a memorandum published in 1947,that retardation of 0.25g Should be provided On a fully laden vehicle, with a proviso that an attempt should be made to improve this to 0.3g.
The final correspondence 'included • in the M.P.T.A.'s • report is the Ministry's letter dated March 8, 1951, to, the S.M.M.T., putting forward the 1947 memorandum figures.
It is understood that there has since • been extensive cOrrespcindence between allparties, but-no decision has yet been • reached.