Re: Slam locks on a van's cab doors - legal?

AstraVanMan wrote:
So basically where do I stand? Obviously I've signed the contract, but
surely I can't be held to terms of a contract that are clearly in breach of
C+U regulations and EU directives?

EU directives are irrelevant.


Really? I've been told that they override UK Law, or something to that effect.


I doubt if it is against C+U regulations, but they get amended so
often it is difficult to find things sometimes.

The situation you describe really is far fetched, unless your cab is
supplied with "bullet proof" glass, as any crash sufficient to leave
you unconscious is almost certain to have also broken the glass.


Yes, it's a really far fetched situation, but IMHO risk assessment is about considering the worse case scenario. And it all depends on the type of crash, and which glass you're referring to - most impacts are frontal, and I can't imagine that many frontal impacts affecting the door window. It's not just a crash that could cause such a situation - if the driver was to have an unexpected heart attack (ok, this could cause a crash, mind you) then a crash may not neccessarily happen, but getting to the driver to take action would be absolutely neccessary in the shortest possible space of time, and if something was to happen in the middle of nowhere, the first on the scene, who would be a passer-by (either on foot or by car) may not have the means to break a window, and may waste vital time trying to find such an object.

<Snip>
I have given you an alternative, albeit also far fetched, scenario which could arguably be even more a "worse case" - that of a knife-wielding "van-jacker" getting into the passenger seat at lights, should the doors be unlocked.

I would also suggest that, in the remote possibilities you mention, meeting a passer-by able to give the *correct* emergency medical treatment is going to be even more a problem than findind one who cannot break the window. In many cases, such as neck and spinal injury, you may be far better off behind the locked door, until emergency services arrive. There are also cases of "rescued" people being run over by the next car..as happened on the Ivybridge bypess, not that long ago. Although, in that particular case, the injured person would have been unlikely to survive, in any event, and there is no suggestion that the first aider acted unreasonably.

If this really is your concern, you can buy a small bracket that will hold a glass-breaking tool and fix it next to the window. I would suggest removing it when leaving the vehicle - although I understand that kids smashing vehicle windows to get at the contents are never short of a brick..

--
Sue





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