New DAFs help ensure safety in roadworks

The safety of motorists and workers during routine and emergency roadworks is being ensured by five DAF LF55s now entering service with traffic control and management specialists A-Plant Lux.

Designed primarily for use on motorways and major roads, the DAFs bristle with safety features. The most prominent is the Traiload crash cushion which is mounted on the rear of each truck and the Vertical Lift lighting arrow which incorporates a large flashing directional signboard. There’s also a rear-facing camera with an in-cab monitor and the heavy-duty driver’s seat has a four-point harness to provide added protection should a collision occur.

Manufactured by King Highway Products of Market Harborough, the Traiload crash cushion is lowered from its vertical travelling position through 90° to its horizontal operating position by means of a hydraulic cylinder. It sits some 4.7 metres behind the vehicle to provide the necessary distance to progressively absorb collisions at up to 100 km/h (62 mph).

The flashing sign remains fixed to the truck body and can be elevated within its frame to give approaching motorists very clear advance warning of lane closures and diversions. Information to be displayed, along with the frequency of flashing, is provided from a master control panel in the cab.

The 7.5 metre bodies were built by Fosters Commercials of Preston on the 6.25 metre wheelbase version of the LF55, which is the longest offered by DAF. The bodies include storage racks for temporary signs and can carry the sandbags to weight them down, cones, and other lane management equipment. A compartment built into each side of the body ahead of the drive axle and accessed through a removable hatch in the body floor enables workers to safely lay or retrieve cones whilst on the move. Each has fixing points for a safety harness and an emergency stop button to alert the driver.

All the equipment on the new DAFs meets the Highways Agency ‘Chapter 8’ guidance on temporary road signage and mobile lane closures. All A-Plant Lux operatives who will use the equipment are also fully trained to this standard. The vehicles are on constant standby to attend at incidents, with call-outs being co-ordinated through the company’s central call centre, which operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Shaun Winstanley, Director of Transport Services for A-Plant, says that the 18 tonne DAF LF55 is an ideal vehicle on which to mount this type of equipment. “It’s a solid, robust truck that’s well-suited to take this type of bodywork and equipment and the driver’s cab provides comfortable conditions for up to three people.”

The first trucks to be delivered have a manual transmission but in the future A-Plant Lux will be trying out the AS-tronic automatic for this type of work. “We think the AS-tronic will be of particular benefit when running at low speeds during cone laying,” says Mr Winstanley. “Not only should it ensure a smoother ride, which the cone layers will appreciate, but it will also relieve the driver of the strain of constantly controlling a clutch pedal at low speeds.

“I was very impressed by the way in which the supplying dealer, Lancashire DAF, handled the preparation of these highly specialised vehicles. It began with getting the chassis specification exactly right for our needs to arranging the fitting of all of the unique equipment incorporated into and onto them and organising their painting and lettering.”

A-Plant Lux Traffic Control and Management was established last year following the acquisition of Lux by A-Plant – one of the world’s largest plant and equipment rental companies. It provides specialised temporary traffic management equipment and services from depots across the UK. Services range from the hire of traffic lights to a comprehensive management service that includes planning, installing and operating large-scale, temporary traffic control systems.