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NEW SIZE AND WEIGHT PROPOSALS LINKED TO PLATING AND BRAKE TESTING
Page 40
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THE Minister of Transport has issued new weights and dimensions proposals for
I goods vehicles, which incorporate a number of differences from the proposals made in January, 1963, and never acted upon. The major change this time is that the Minister proposes that the new weight limits should apply only to new vehicles; the dimension limits are proposed for both new and old units.
But the proposals are linked to the implementation of manufacturers' plating of new vehicles with the maximum gross weight, and compliance by new vehicles with the braking requirements already laid down for private cars and goods vehicles up to 30 cwt. unladen in the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1963, Schedule 4, paragraph 4. This Schedule provides that, for a four-wheeled vehicle with two means of operating its brakes, one of which operates on aU four wheels, one system shall have a total braking efficiency of not less than 50 per cent and the other not less than 25 per cent. If neither means of operation works on all four wheels one system must have an efficiency of not less than 30 per cent and the other not less than 25 per cent.
In a letter to interested organizations, seeking their comments on his proposals by April 30 next, the Minister says that a major object in revising weights and dimensions is to equate this country's requirements with those of the Continent. There was considerable controversy when the original proposals were announced concerning the Minister's suggestion that maximum weights should be linked to minimum axle spacings. In his new proposals Mr. Marples says he cannot eliminate this proposal; he has reduced the spacings required in three instances but has put a number of additional ones into other categories.
There is as yet no positive control over the total length of a vehicle and its trailer. The new proposals, however, include a length limit of 18 m. (59 ft. 04 in.) for vehicle and trailer "trains ". It is not proposed to specify train lengths for the few cases where more than one trailer may be drawn; but it is proposed to restrict the drawing of more
than one trailer to vehicles not more than 30 ft. long.
It is also proposed now that removable or hinged extensions (such as those used on car transporters), readily removable containers extending beyond the backs of vehicles, and tailboards let down into the horizontal position shall be counted in the total length or width under the new proposals.
Although the new proposals still specify maxima which are below the highest Continental limits, they would cover a high proportion of those vehicles which might want to enter the United Kingdom. Therefore, the Minister proposes that, for foreign registered vehicles, their gross weight limit would be that specified for them in their own country if it were less than the British standard. These vehicles would also be controlled by the proposed minimum wheelbase requirements.
These are the new proposals, as set out by the Minister:—