A new device designed to boost safety around commercial vehicles could help prevent hundreds of injuries to vulnerable road users.
RotaRail is the innovative idea that creates an extra barrier against the risk – particularly to pedestrians and cyclists – of becoming caught under the wheels of a passing truck.
In 2017 RotaRail won the Fleet Transport Truck Innovation Award
Legislation already dictates that most trucks over 3.5 tonnes gvw must be fitted with Lateral Protection Devices, which partially cover the area between front and rear wheels, below bodywork. To allow enough clearance for vehicles crossing uneven ground or speed humps, though, these still leave an unprotected gap of up to 500mm between their lower edge and the road surface.
This is where RotaRail comes in. Built on a superbly simple yet elegantly effective concept, it closes off the potentially hazardous gap between axles. Its patented hinge mechanism allows the system to swing backward or forward to avoid obstacles such as uneven ground or speed humps, before automatically returning to its locked vertical position. The result is reliable protection with ample ground clearance exactly when it’s needed.
RotaRail was developed by specialist manufacturer Twomey Precision Engineering Ltd, at its factory in County Cork, Ireland.
Managing Director Ronan Twomey recalled: “The idea for RotaRail came about through conversations with a group of friends, all of whom are involved in the transport industry.
“We were all aware that the gap between a vehicle’s axles poses a serious risk to vulnerable road users – including pedestrians, cyclists, parents with prams and others. Unfortunately many of us have heard of, or even witnessed, incidents where individuals have become entangled in this exposed space.
“UK Government research into annual incident figures shows that, alarmingly, more than 2,000 people per year are seriously injured in accidents involving transport vehicles – and there are well over 300 fatalities.”
He continued: “We decided to try and do something about it. It was clear that adding another protective rail could significantly reduce the risk, but equally evident that putting a fixed piece of bodywork so close to the road surface would cause problems for a driver manoeuvring over obstacles.
“And so, the idea for RotaRail was born.”
The RotaRail concept is deceptively simple. An extra rail is added to the existing Lateral Protection Device or chassis of almost any size or type of vehicle or trailer, reducing the gap to the road surface to as little as 220mm. The connection is by patented arms which are hinged to rotate, allowing the rail to deflect upwards out of harm’s way if it comes into contact with an obstruction such as a speed hump.
The system’s effectiveness is the result of rigorous testing and development. A series of reviews and refinements to the initial design have created a product which is proven to work, with the robust build and low maintenance requirement which makes it fully fit for purpose in a wide variety of applications.
““RotaRail has undergone rigorous independent testing by TRL (Transport Research Laboratories) in Wokingham and has also been in service with operators in the UK and Ireland, including a large London-based building materials supplier and a major Irish foodservice provider, for several years,” said Ronan Twomey.
“This extended trial in real-world conditions has helped us not just to confirm the basic effectiveness of the product, but also to make some key improvements to the design and materials to reduce weight and improve durability.
“As a result we now have a RotaRail that is easy to fit to most vehicles, is very cost-effective, and provides a tangible contribution towards road safety. It’s also a highly visible way for any operator to demonstrate their full commitment to public safety.”