Hi Eileen,

Lorry Braking Systems Affected by emfs

May I refer you to the article on page 12 of the current edition of "Private Eye"?

In an article entitled "Road Rage" a columnist states:

'Some lorry drivers are concerned about temporary electro-magnetic interference in their vehicle's control systems.   In other industries, including rail, problems of this nature would trigger official investigations, suspension of affected equipment or practices and new safety rules or standards.   The official response to this disturbing fault on lorries is that new standards will be applied . . .  but not until 2014.   Possibly.

'Long-distance lorry driver Peter Orr told the Eye how his modern truck, equipped with a high-tech engine control unit (ECU) suffered brief loss of control as it passed through areas of interference:  "Interference from powerful radio signals is knocking out the brakes and gearbox in my truck and others.   In the last two years there's been a massive boost in radio aerial power.   We've had serious issues with our trucks.   It affects the gearbox and braking system of 44-ton trucks, but it doesn't leave the memory in the computer system.   It just says there is a fault on your ECU."   [Presumably he means that no trace of the interference is recorded.]

He said the problem was acute in France but also occurred in Britain, including at a motorway service station where there were masts either side of the road.   He had reported the issue to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, the governing body overseeing vehicle safety, in February, 2005, but feels he was brushed off.

'Vosa refused to tell the Eye how many drivers or businesses had reported the problem to it.   On its testing programme for interference, Vosa said:  "Vosa does not currently do any tests on electromagnetic interference for vehicle systems such as gearbox controllers.   There are EC type-approval directives on the subject but they are not currently part of the mandatory EC type-approval requirements for the registration of any class of motor vehicle other than private cars and motor-cycles.   However, part of the type-approval requirement for anti-lock braking systems usually fitted to heavy goods vehicles requires that these systems are not adversely affected by magnetic or electrical fields, although it does not reference directive standards.   Many of the goods vehicles sold in UK now are type-approved elsewhere in the EC."

Which in English means that nobody bothered to define minimum standards which trucks have to meet to ensure the systems controlling brakes and gearboxes are immune from electromagnetic interference.

Vosa added:  "For the future, EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) testing for all vehicle systems as well as the existing anti-lock braking system is likely to become a mandatory requirement for type-approval for heavy goods vehicles, potentially from 2014."'

The article concludes that road vehicles run through residential streets, pass schools and share routes with pedestrians and cyclists, but applying stringent safety standards there is just too difficult, apparently.

Now you know my reading habits   8-)  .   Sorry, ever the cynic.

Regards,

Ian F. Hawkes,

for CW12 Residents Group.