a What are the advantages and dis
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advantages of installing anti jack-knife devices on articulated vehicles and what reliable statistics are available as to the frequency of this occurrence in view of recent television programmes on the subject?
A The advantage of using anti jack-knifing
devices such as the fifth-wheel damper is that it cuts down the chance of a jack-knife at relatively low cost and weight, coupled with simplicity. There is no problem when interchanging semi-trailers and the device comes into operation automatically.
Disadvantages are few though there may be some semi-trailer "drag" when manoeuvring is combined with braking.
We are riot aware of any reliable statistics of accidents involving jack-knifing. It does not follow that a jack-knife is the actual cause of every accident when an articulated outfit finishes up in this position. If the outfit was straight when it hit another vehicle it would tend to fold up. From what figures are available it is doubtful whether jack-knifing is the cause of an accident in more than 1 per cent of accidents involving articulated vehicles.