'Reluctant' SMMT on Mudflap Design
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THE Society of Motor Manufacturers
and Traders were "not falling over themselves with enthusiasm" about improving mudfiaps on commercial vehicles, said Lord Lindgren, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, in the Upper House.
But, he added, he thought that the Society would co-operate in improving the design of vehicles and guards for vehicles.
A Road Research Laboratory report had been submitted to the Society in January, and the Ministry had had an interim reply from them.
Lord Lucas of Chilworth suggested that the cure for the "acute problem" of spray was not in the design of the motor vehicle. The point was the slowness with which surface water was drained off highways and the increasing speed of vehicles. How that could be overcome was one of the headaches the Ministry was going to have in the future.
Lord Lindgren agreed. Road drainage. he said, was one of the problems, as also was the tread of the tyres and the speed of vehicles. He added that side spray was perhaps a greater' interference to the following vehicle than spray thrown up.
Lord Somers wondered whether the Minister would consider laying down regulations about their design.