Stand by the tacho . it's proven
Page 22
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HAVING read several of your articles proposing the use of advanced electronics in place of the more usual tachographs, it is apparent that to some extent the original point of tachographs is being overlooked.
The device is a required fitting in order that a permanent record of a driver's activities is readily available. Such records are undoubtedly exploited as longterm management aids but the original device was adopted to enable legislative authorities to ensure compliance.
The devices in use in today's transport environment are simple as well as effective and have the advantage of untampered accuracy. The trace made is easily read, even in a roadside situation without recourse to supplementary equipment. More sophisticated recorded devices, particularly those involving magnetic recording tape, are open to electro-magnetic interference. This could seriously reduce the prospects of continued accuracy in the records.
Unless the usual visual trace is retained the appropriate authorities and small operators will require an expensive investment in suitable apparatus to retrieve the records. Additionally, this situation implies, therefore, that any "Black Box" would be supplementary to existing tachographs, and perhaps of dubious value.
The simple efficiency of modern tachographs coupled to the relatively inexpensive cost, would appear to encourage the continued use of proven tachograph designs.
H. W. F. DAVIDSON Basingstoke, Hampshirit.