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AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FOR COMMERCIALS?
Page 58
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ETAILS of research work being carried out by the Ford Motor Co. Ltd., in conjunction with the Motor Industry Research Association, have been given this week by Ford. Their work includes devising a system of driver-restraint in the event of a collision. Normally, local delivery drivers will not use a standard safety belt because of the frequency with which they get into and out of their vehicles.
"There are indications that an economical and effective system will soon be available which will almost certainly incorporate a means for the automatic application of seat belts and their stowage when not in use," said the company.
The siting of switches and other controls away from positions where they can cause injury to occupants of vehicles is also being studied. Ford are also studying the replacement of conventional steering wheels by an energy-absorbing type.
Together with the Ministry of Transport and MIRA the company are also investigating data relating to headboard strengths and cab roll-over forces. A full-scale research is being carried on into the effectiveness of various types of under-run bumpers to prevent other vehicles from sliding underneath in the event of a collision.
Experiments are going on to determine the best means of fitting side marker lights, reflective lettering and the fining and design of deep valance rear mudguards. Braking, handling, improved visibility, refined seating, noise insulation and instrument layout are other matters currently being studied.
Ford has already organized three barrier crash tests with a Transit 17cwt van (this means driving the vehicle at about 40 m.p.h. into a 100-ton concrete block under test conditions to ascertain the impact damage), and a similarly exhaustive programme will be carried on through the summer with Ford D Series 2to 8-ton trucks.
Another programme calls for a Transit van to be fitted with every type of safety device, so they can be evaluated alongside each other to discover which are the most effective. This van is now being prepared.