Articulated Vehicles

HC Deb 04 August 1965 vol 717 cc345-6W

Mr Farr

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made in his efforts to reduce the tendency of articulated vehicles to jackknife.

Mr. Tom Fraser

On some models the tendency to jackknife has already been improved by better braking distribution, but this is unlikely to be the complete answer and further investigations are proceeding, with the co-operation of the vehicle and component manufacturers, at the Motor Industry Research Association and the Road Research Laboratory.

Much, of course, depends upon how the vehicles are loaded and driven.

Mr. Farr

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total number of articulated goods vehicles in use at the latest available date; what proportion this figure represents of all goods vehicles in use; and, in the latest availably year's statistics of accidents in which goods vehicles were involved, what proportion concerned articulated vehicles.

Mr. Tom Fraser

It is estimated that in 1962 55,000 goods vehicles, 4 per cent. of the total number in use, were articulated.

Information showing the proportion of articulated vehicles in accidents involving goods vehicles is not at present available, but it is planned to collect it from 1966 onwards.