Well Biglorryblog anorak army...can you tell what it is yet? I can't. And neither can 'The Keeper of the Flame' Martin Phippard who's sent it to me wit this message: "Hi again, I found this strange beast of burden outside the premises of Acklea Services in Calne, Wiltshire recently and have not yet really worked out the function of the gear at the rear. Acklea kits out all manner of trucks engaged in Motorway Maintenance by installing the warning lights, big blue, flashing arrows indicating a mandatory lane change etc.but for the life of me I can't figure out the big alloy hoops. Over to you BLB's army! Bye now, Martin P."
Now click through here for a surprise as to what's up front....
Yes it's a T-cab...well there's a turnup for the books. And maybe those rings are for exploding magnetic mines...? A pie for the best suggestions!
Hey BB,
I think it's a mobile traffic sign! I think the whole backside can flip backwards. Then the aluminium pipes can absorb kinetic energy when a car crashes into it.
Did I guess right?
Greetings,
Marco (Holland)
Marco, you are exactly right. These trucks are used as warnings to prevent other drivers driving through road workers, etc. The hoops are lowered hydraulically or pneumatically to the horizontal position to absorb the energy of any other vehicle whose driver can't see the big flashing lights and decides to crash into the truck. They are used extensively here in NZ, especially on motorways.
BLB,
You might like this video clip from Holland which features a truck moving the temporary land dividing barrier around:
http://www.tachoblog.com/general/moveable-barriers-good-idea-tachoblog/
Regards,
Tachoblog.
Yes that is exactly what it is
The equipment on the back is a crash cushion. The purpose of the truck is to provide traffic management on motorways, dual carraigeways etc, the load area is designed to carry cones and signs (with frames fitted). Either side of the truck bed there should be a little "well" where the road operatives can pass out the cones while driving to close a lane etc.
I have been told it is a recovery truck. It works for BDV. That was the reply I got when I showed someone this and pointed out that it doesnt have the legal chapter 8 markings. (Hi-viz stripes on rear).
Tachoblog, that is used over here in the UK now aswell, seen one just like that parked up near a tunnel widening.
Keep this type of vehicles coming BLB!
I work at the Birmingham NEC and saw this crash cushion at a road expo exhibition earlier this year, It is a Acklea scorpian crash cushion. They were showing the crash tests there and it was amazing. This crash cushion was hit by a car at 70mph i think? and the vehicle hardly moved, they also showed real life crashes where 18ton+ lorries had hit into these crash cushions - looked messy but no fatailities. The idea of these vehicles is to protect the motorway workers from vehicles that may stray (crash) into their workzone, saving the workers and the drivers lives. It's funny you see these vehicles on the motorways but never really take on board what they do, at least i did til it was explained to me.
J