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Dept for Transport

Answer

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the number of fatalities caused by the loss of wheels from heavy commercial vehicles; what estimate he has made of the number of (a) fatalities and (b) incidents caused by such losses; what research he is undertaking into this problem; what assessment he has made of the availability of safety wheel nuts; and if he will make a statement. [201198] Mr. Jamieson: On (a) and (b) , figures relating to heavy goods vehicle wheel detachment cases and fatalities have already been given in an associated response given today "(UIN 201197)". Some research was undertaken in the late 1990s and further research is currently under way with more under consideration. While research has concentrated on the extent, rather than the causes, of wheel loss the results have shown that a major factor is lack of regular and effective maintenance. In the Department's view, while locking wheel nuts can prevent loss of wheel nuts and might in some cases prevent total loss of a wheel, they cannot prevent the loss of clamp force as a result of which it would be possible for wheel loss to occur, through excessive wear, while wheel nuts were still attached.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

201198; 428 c423W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Death Accidents Casualties Components Large goods vehicles Safety measures Roads Research

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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