Report
urges
tanker
changes
By DAN OBERDORFER
Double bottom tankers need to be
modified in two places in order to
become stable enough to be returned to
the road in Michigan, states a report by
the University's Highway Safety
Research Institute (HSRI).
The report, delivered to the Office of
Highway Safety and Planning Monday,
recommends that the tandem tankers
be kept off the road until they have un-
dergone the necessary modifications
because they have "exceptionally low"
stability. In January, Governor
Milliken issued an emergency order
which banned those trucks from Detroit
and other municipalities except late at
night.
THE MODIFICATIONS would
reduce the likelihood of the tandem
tanker's tipping over to a level "com-
parable" to single tankers currently in
use in Michigan, according to the
report. The two modifications are ex-
pected to cost $3,000 per truck.
"We look upon them (the
modifications) as serving to upgrade
highway safety so the typical double
EPA orders
AC reaI
(Continued from Page 1)
of that state's stronger air pollution
requirements. However, the California
vehicles are being investigated by EPA
for the same defect.
AMERICAN MOTORS announced a
similar recall Tuesday night on a volun-
tary basis, and in February, it said it
was recalling about 45 percent of the af-
fected vehicles. But the EPA action
requires the company to get federal ap-
proval for its corrective measures.
"If the public health threat from air
pollution is to be abated, it is crucial
that cars meet the emission standards
set by Congress," EPA worker Blum
said.
"Nitrogen oxide emissions change in-
to nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere,
and adversely affect those with acute
respiratoryillness,icausing difficulty in
breathing, chest pains and bronchitis in
children."
SHE SAID the pollutants also are a
major contributor to smog that "causes
lung and eye irritation which leads to
headache, eye discomfort, cough and
fatigue."
The AMC defect involves an
inadequately brazed joint in the
exhaust gas recirculation system,
which frequently breaks and makes the
system ineffective.
Ford Motor Co. was recently ordered
to recall 640,000vehicles for similar
problems and EPA said the defective
part in both the Ford and AMC exhaust
systems was manufactured by the
Eaton Corp.
AMC's recall announcement said the
company would make the repairs free
of charge if affected cars were brought
to dealers.
This double-bottom tanker, equipped with the modifications recommended by the University Highway Safety Research
Institute, passed the obstacle course test this April with honors while tankers without the modifications did not. The extremi-
ties on either side are training wheels which keep the tanker from falling over during its trial run.
bottomed super tankers can be phased proved it ineffective," Ervin said. 'pup' (second tanker) rolls over and the
out," said project director Robert Er- The part to be replaced is a hitch first part keeps going, dragging it along
vin. which must be made more rigid to the ground," he said.
Ervin said the innovations "involve the prevent the second tanker from The recommendations are only
removal of one part and the swinging by itself. All 13 accidents "temporary measures," Ervin said. he
replacement of it with another, and in- during 1977 occurred because the said other innovations will be needed to
stalling certain bolts in each axle." second tanker rolled over during a turn, insure even greater stability.
A THIRD alternative, removing the Ervin said. The $98,000 report ran 75 pages and
middle axle from between the two had an 150 page appendix. It took six
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