Dangerous trucks and coaches to be targeted

Date: 30/6/2010

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) could get new powers to take action on trucks and coaches that are not being handled safely.

Philip Hammond, Transport Secretary, is holding a consultation on new proposals to target such vehicles whose drivers are working overlong hours or are dangerously overloaded.

The plans also address VOSA's powers to tackle cabotage breaches, in which non-UK hauliers take too much domestic work from within the country.

Under Mr Hammond's proposals, VOSA would get greater powers to stop drivers, with Scottish inspectors being able to pull over commercial vehicles without police help.

The Road Haulage Association recently called for just one set of rules to apply to working hours for HGV drivers.

Director of Policy Jack Semple said regulations are too confusing at present, with two sets of rules binding these workers.

He added that this also creates unnecessary bureaucracy, since employers need two sets of timekeeping records.

Posted by Mary Treen