KNOW YOUR ABS

This article discusses the current Department of Transport (DTp) proposals for braking regulations for commercial vehicles in the UK. The proposed legislation would implement European Community (EC) Directives 88/194 and 88/195, which are the latest measures in a series aiming to improve commercial vehicle braking standards throughout Europe. These would in turn give effect to rules on anti-lock braking presented in the earlier Directives 85/647, 79/489 and 71/320. The DTp proposals are currently a discussion document and have been given a cautious welcome by the transport industry and qualified support by the Freight Transport Association (FTA). A two-stage timetable is envisaged, with relevant trailers requiring anti-lock fitment from 1 October 1991 and motive vehicles requiring fitment from 1 April 1992. Among goods vehicles, the proposals apply to drawing vehicles with maximum gross weight over 16 tonnes and trailers with maximum weight over 10 tonnes; thus they would not apply to light urban articulated vehicles or to most solo rigid trucks. Among passenger vehicles, they apply only to 'inter-urban' vehicles with maximum gross weight over 12 tonnes. There is also strong international pressure for retarders to become mandatory, at least for hazardous goods transport. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00160849
• Corporate Authors:

  Freight Transport Association

  Hermes House, St. Johns Road
  Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9UZ,   England 
• Publication Date: 1990-10

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 36-7,40
• Serial:
  • FREIGHT
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: Freight Transport Association
  • ISSN: 0016-0849

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freight transportation; Laws; Trucks; Vehicle design
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• ITRD Terms: 1461: Anti locking device; 1361: Brake; 5416: Deceleration; 3674: Equipment; 8303: EU; 1556: Legislation; 1236: Lorry; 187: Specification (standard); 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Design; Freight Transportation; Highways; Law; Motor Carriers; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00620067
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 31 1992 12:00AM