MONEY WELL SPENT
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• The problem of wheels coming off HGVs might be more important than some people thought — or at least as important as the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, British Standards tyres and wheels technical committee and Commercial Motor have been saying for the past two years.
After providing £30,000 towards the original IRTE/MIRA research into loose wheels, the Department of Trade and Industry has now pledged to match the £10,000 recently raised by the road transport industry, which includes contributions made by hauliers and manufacturers to Commercial Motor's Lost Wheels Fund, launched at the beginning of the year This will be invested in further research into the problem.
While the offer of Government money is always welcome, we still wonder why the DTi is coughing up the cash, and not the Department of Transport. The Dip seems to feel that funding research into the matter is unnecessary, on the grounds that the number of fatalities caused by lost HGV wheels is small, and that money is needed on other high-priority road safety matters. Its chief desire right now is to set up maintenance guidelines for operators on wheel fixings. Unfortunately the IRTE has already confirmed that the problem extends far further than just poor maintenance. There could be a change of heart with the arrival of the new Transport Secretary, but we doubt it. Considering the amount of money the Dip plans to spend on putting the M25 right is it too much to ask it to spend £30,000 to save lives? Hauliers wishing to do their bit for lost wheel research can send cheques (payable to Commercial Motor Wheels Fund) to Commercial Motor, Room 403, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS.