TYPE-APPROVAL SAFEGUARD FOR OPERATORS
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BY THE TECHNICAL EDITOR
THE White Paper issued by the Government last week (The Cornrnercial Motor, December 24) is intended primarily as an explanation of some of the measures being taken to reduce road accidents. So far as road transport is concerned the main interest is that the setting out again of various proposed -regulations on braking, testing, plating and so on is accompanied for the first time by an official reference to the introduction of a type approval scheme.
None of the existing proposals is clarified or, in fact, defined; all the White Paper does is to refer to them and repeat what is already known. We must wait for the promised Bill for details. But in respect of the type approval plan there is a different situation. We are given, for the first time, an idea of how it will operate in the UK. In view of all the new regulations we are going to have, type approval appears to be an essential safeguard for operators, who will thus be reassured that a vehicle being bought complies with the law.
The White Paper agrees that the Construction and Use Regulations have become more complex with time and that it is increasingly necessary for a newvehicle owner to rely on the manufacturer in ensuring that the vehicle meets the law. After Ministry of Transport examination and approval of a particular model the maker will be authorized to issue certificates with similar vehicles stating that they are of a type that has
been approved. The fact that an operatcir will have this proof that his vehicle is " legal " should eliminate any possible worries he might have on the score of complying with regulations. Most operators, I am sure, will say the sooner the better.
But it could be some time before a type approval scheme is a fact. The White Paper says that a great deal of detailed work has to be done before one can be started. This will presumably mean the usual long-drawn-out, discussions with manufacturers and other parties. It would be very nice if type approval could be introduced by the time the proposals for • plating and annually testing all commercial vehicles are implemented.
New AEC Address: The publicity offices of AEC Ltd. have been moved from 49 Berkeley Square, London Wl. Correspondence should now be addressed to AEC Ltd., Publicity Division, Leyland Motor Corporation, Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London WI. (Tel: Grosvenor 6050).