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Dept for Transport

Answer

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road fatalities arising from the loss of road wheels from heavy commercial vehicles occurred in each of the last five years; how many wheel loss incidents there were in that period; what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on this issue; and what assessment he has made of the effects of safety wheel nuts in reducing accidents. [201197] Mr. Jamieson: Figures are not currently recorded in the form requested, but I attach a table showing the statistics available. It should be noted that there may sometimes be delays in listing figures while the findings of coroners' courts are awaited. Heavy goods vehicles and trailers--wheel detachment--January 1997 to August 2003 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Wheel detachment cases Fatalities HGV rigids and tractor units 175 3 HGV semi-trailers 44 3 HGV drawbar trailers 10 0 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Some research was undertaken in 1997, following which a guidance leaflet was issued. More investigation is currently in hand with findings expected shortly, and further research to look at wheel fixings and methods of tightening is under consideration for next year. The Department has not commissioned research into locking wheel nuts, but work on behalf of the British Standards Institution indicated that a loss of clamp force--due to settlement between the interfaces of the wheel-fixing assembly--can take place without rotation of the nut. Thus, although use of locking devices can prevent loss of wheel nuts the devices cannot counteract a loss of clamp force, and excessive wear as a consequence of this could result in the loss of a wheel while nuts were still attached. Nonetheless there might be benefit in some cases, with such equipment preventing or delaying total loss of a wheel.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

201197; 428 c422-3W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Death Accidents Components Large goods vehicles Roads Research Vehicles Tyres

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk