Blakedale News

State-of-the-art Crash Cushion Vehicles supplied by Blakedale have been chosen to update the extensive fleet of established traffic management and highway maintenance specialist, KJ Thulborn Contractors and Engineers Limited.

KJ Thulborn, who will shortly be rebranded as the KJT Group, purchased two new build 18 tonne vehicles from Blakedale after meeting the road safety specialist at Traffex. In addition, KJ Thulborn has also purchased two former Blakedale hire fleet 18 tonne and 26 tonne Crash Cushion Vehicles and placed an order for a further brand new 18 tonne vehicle to be delivered by the end of the year. 

After 32 years in business, KJ Thulborn has amassed a fleet of 16 Crash Cushion and 150 further Traffic Management vehicles, which are used to deliver a wide range of traffic management and highway maintenance services to a variety of public and private sector clients throughout the UK.

KJ Thulborn also operates a Lantra-accredited Traffic Management Training School from its headquarters in Staverton in Devon and other depots in Somerset and Swindon. As a recognised industry trainer that promotes safe working practices and as an employer of 180 staff, KJ Thulborn is committed to ensuring its extensive fleet is equipped with the very latest safety technology.

Managing Director, Kevin Thulborn, explains: “The safety features were absolutely imperative to our choice – both for protecting road users and our workers. Blakedale provides the most up to date Crash Cushions and lighting, enabling our workforce to operate safely and efficiently from both sides of the vehicles.”

Blakedale’s Crash Cushion Vehicles (also known as an Impact Protection Vehicles) are designed to protect road workers in the event of a vehicle impact, and are fully approved to NCHRP350 level 3 and the 3-51 UK test at 110kph (70mph).

All vehicles come complete with a bespoke traffic management body which includes sign rack, cone wells, twin handrails, anti-slip flooring and under body storage. In addition all are fitted with reverse alarms, work lights, warning alarms and high specification LED underbody lighting and beacons. Blakedale now fit all their new vehicles with a recordable multi camera system which features live streaming, tracking as well as vehicle telematics.

For KJ Thulborn, it was also important to ensure the new vehicles complied with modern requirements for detecting pedestrians and cyclists, especially in relation to TFL (Transport for London) regulations.

Richard Smith, Joint Managing Director of Blakedale, comments: “All of our vehicles are designed to meet TFL standards, regardless of where they are put to use. We fit side-scan CCTV cameras as standard when currently these are only required when working in TFL areas. When it comes to safety design, we make it our mission to exceed all industry standards and legislation.”

KJ Thulborn will use Blakedale’s Crash Cushion Vehicles for all of its major contracts to maintain and improve roads across the UK.