FACING UP TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF PREDOMINANTLY DAFT BRAKING RULES

This article discusses the views expressed on new UK braking regulations at an IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers) seminar in April 2000. A revision of British Standard BSAU 138b came in effect on 15 April 2000, to raise by 0.5mm the valve lift of contact (C-type) airline couplings, used on articulated lorries in the UK. At the seminar, operators were advised to ensure that couplings meet this revised Standard. Various features of the improved coupling design and various brake-connecter improvements were discussed. In contrast, there was disappointment at the conservatism of the latest European Commission braking directive (98/12). The new head of the vehicle standards division of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) confirmed that this directive contains many errors, and explained its main changes, which include mandatory fitting of anti-lock brake (ABS) systems to heavy lorries. The head of vehicle safety systems at the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) considered the effects of the imperfect compatibility of tractor-trailer braking, by describing the results of load distribution tests. Hazards and serious accidents of parking and connecting tractors and trailers were also discussed; for example, there are too many air-circuit arrangements.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00203122
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Road Transport Engineeers

  1 Cromwell Place
  London SW1 25F,   England 
• Authors:
  • DICKSON-SIMPSON, J
• Publication Date: 2000-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 37-9
• Serial:
  • TRANSPORT ENGINEER
  • Publisher: Institute of Road Transport Engineeers
  • ISSN: 0020-3122

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Braking; Conferences; Couplers; Errors; Federal government; Hazards; Improvements; Legislation; Standards; Tests; Traffic regulations; Trailers; Truck tractors
• Identifier Terms: European Union
• Uncontrolled Terms: Articulated vehicles
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 1225: Articulated vehicle; 1874: Braking; 8525: Conference; 3876: Coupling; 6440: Error; 8303: EU; 183: Government (national); 9108: Improvement; 1556: Legislation; 9150: Risk; 187: Specification (standard); 6255: Test; 1214: Tractor; 1544: Traffic regulations; 1203: Trailer; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Law; Motor Carriers;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00795179
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 7 2000 12:00AM