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Department for Transport
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New measures to tackle rogue hauliers
Hauliers who flout the rules of the road face being fined and having their vehicles immobilised under new road safety measures unveiled for consultation today by Roads Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman.
The measures will also ensure that hauliers based outside Britain cannot escape punishment, by giving the Police and inspectors from the Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA) the power to collect on-the-spot penalties from anyone without a valid British address. VOSA inspectors will also get the power to issue fixed penalty notices, providing a powerful new tool with which to tackle offenders.
Stephen Ladyman said
"We're calling time on drivers who think they can offend here and then disappear without risk of punishment. This is about making our roads safer and creating a level playing field across Europe.
"Our message couldn't be clearer: whether you live here or abroad, don't think you can get away with breaking the rules of the road."
The measures that are out for consultation will improve road safety by making it easier to penalise hauliers who break driving hours, weight or vehicle safety regulations. As well as providing a powerful deterrent to any driver who is considering flouting the rules, the new powers will reduce the burden on the Courts which are currently the only means of penalising overseas offenders.
The on-the-spot fines would be taken in the form of
"deposits", equivalent to the value of the fine likely
to be imposed. Offenders will then be given the chance to contest
the charge in Court.
Currently the Police and VOSA have the
power to prohibit a driver and vehicle that breaks the rules, ie.
to order the vehicle to remain stationary for a fixed period of
time. Under the new rules the Police and VOSA will be able to
immobilise any vehicle- whether based in Britain or overseas- if
they believe there is a risk that the driver will continue with
the journey before the prohibition has expired or if the driver
refuses to pay the deposit.
Notes to Editors
1. The Department for Transport is consulting on the new
measures. The consultation is available on at
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/consulfixedpendepsch
and will be open for comments until 30 August 2007.
2. Enabling powers, paving the way for these new measures, were granted in the Road Safety Act 2006. The Department consulted on the principle of the measures in 2004.
3. Deposit payments will be taken when a driver cannot provide a 'satisfactory' British address (ie. one at which a summons could be served). The new scheme provides an equivalent to the on-the-spot fines levied by the enforcement agencies in most other Member States.
4. While these measures will minimise the need for arresting and detaining a driver in custody for routine traffic offences, offences still considered serious enough to merit prosecution, e.g. falsification of records, would continue to be referred to the Court.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
