I've got mixed feelings about all this 'safety'
Safety is indeed important. But is an Ionics actually 'safe' ?
Suppose seat belts were 'safe' upto 30mph but not tested beyond that speed. Would they really be 'safe' ?
Ionics have indeed made steps in the right direction, but the forces involved with stopping a ton of water (or a tonne of anything!) are huge!
OK, so Ionics are tested to a level....is that a level that would be recognised by the government? Obviously not.
There is an argument that you are lulling purchasers into a false sense of security by testing to a very low standard (30mph being one of the lowest speed restrictions in the UK) and there is a very real possibility that those same vehicles will venture onto 40mph or 60mph or even 70mph road/motorways.....there is nothing on the Ionics website that suggests you SHOULD NOT travel on roads above 30 mph?
So, I would suggest that Ionics limit their vehicles to 30mph (as in the case of heavy goods vehicles which are restricted to 56mph) or point out to customers that their systems are ONLY tested to meet a crash at 30mph.
In either case, this is not a government standard and is merely a 'selling tactic' by a company.
I would welcome a clear guidline from the government on this issue.
If my vehicle is allowed to travel at 70mph then my 'fixed load' should be tested to meet a crash at 70mph....but as we all know, we'd be travelling around in 7.5 tonne trucks to meet this spec.
....whether we owned an Ionics or a DIY sert-up.
But is an Ionics actually 'safe' ?
Your statement is out of context within what Ionics have done, within it then the answer to your question is yes.
Politicians and the whole government are not the experts on loads of things including this, why do people automatically assume they are.
Would you prefer your local MP to do the actual crash test? Or an organisation that deals with this everyday?
Of course it is a selling point; you will be paying for peace of mind that’s the value in the clamps.
Ewan,
Your local MP does not test your system.
This is contracted via central government (mandarins) and more so these days through European Union Directives to groups/organistions/ professional bodies
with an interest in the field.
The process is very long and laborious and may take several years to come to fruition.
What Ionics has achieved is laudable. But is it an accepted industry standard?
NO.
To stop a tonne of water safely would require us to use 7.5tonne vehicles.
This is not a hypothetical question. This is the basic fundamental law of physics.
I know this for a fact. I will state quite clearly right now, your 'van' will kill you if you hit an object traveling above 30mph whether that be an Ionics system or DIY system....if it has water on board.
I am
NOT a government mandarin or an agent for a 7.5 tonne truck manufacturer.
Our 'vans' will
NOT stop a tonne of water killing us.
If (and when) the government issue clear directives on how we should transport our water "safely" I shall be the first to comply with the the new laws/directives.
I embrace change and new legislation. It is a challenge to be conquered, in the process, my life and that of my staff become valued. I hope the government
DO set down new regulations for the benefit of me and my staff.
I shall welcome them with open arms.
