Side reflectors
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T was interested to read in 1Commercial. Motor about the suggested use of side reflectors on LGVs and their trailers to prevent accidents (M 29 Sept-5 Oct).
Much as I applaud Bedfordshire County Council's work in this area, I would draw your attention to the nationally circulated report my accident investigation unit produced on the subject in 1986. Despite the wealth of data it contained and the conclusion that side reflectors could be the answer to the serious accident problem, I regret to say that it drew a resounding silence from the haulage industry.
I hope that the current initiative will prove more successful.
Nigel Cole Director of highways & transportation, Kent County Council, Maidstone.
A chock in time
T refer to your report on an iLGV driver being crushed to death while coupling a trailer (CM 20-26 October), and I wonder if the WV test could be improved to reduce this risk.
I recently visited our Brewery Transport Advisory Committee member in France—Lycee Prof,sionnel Automobile & Transports in Lille-which trains drivers and mechanics on two and three-year courses. There I visited a vehicle test station. the police road control system and an LGV driver test centre.
In the French LGV test the driver is required to physically disconnect and connect the tractor and trailer. And before this the driver is required to chock one axle of the trailer; inspect the combination for visible mechanical faults and to pace out the overall and between axle lengths of the vehicle. Undue haste in carrying out the above operations resulted in a loss of marks.
Learning to chock an axle may save lives and injury and also damage to equipment. Bill Montague Secretor); BTAC, Hornchurch, Essex.
Horne and away
My recent two-day visit to the Hanover commercial vehicle show left me with mixed feelings on the state of the market and the British companies in it.
On one hand the signs of the long-awaited market upturn were prevalent and there was a definite air of optimism. And many overseas companies I contacted at the show felt their ability to compete in the UK market was severely restricted by our own domestic competition. One German manufacturer said to me: "In Britain. you seem to have the productivity and the prices right, it's not easy to compete."
The downside to all this was the seeming lack of a major British presence at the show. We would say for trailers, for example, that British products are as good, if not better, than our continental counterparts and better all-round value.
I only hope the Hanover show was an isolated case and not a reflection of UK companies' efforts generally. Chris Draycott Sales director, S Jones Truck Centre, Aldridge, Walsall