Increased powers
to crack down on dangerous trucks and coaches were set out today
by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.
The proposals would give the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
(VOSA) more flexibility in tackling vehicles they suspect of being
overloaded or breaking operating or driving hours rules.
The new powers would also help VOSA to enforce new cabotage
rules, which govern the amount of UK domestic work hauliers from
outside the UK can undertake.
Today's consultation also outlines plans to give VOSA
officers in Scotland the power to independently stop commercial
vehicles for the first time. Currently, all VOSA enforcement in
Scotland is assisted by the police.
Philip Hammond said:
"If our roads are to remain among the safest in the
world we need to make sure that the drivers and vehicles on our
roads are fit to be there. VOSA's work is vital in
keeping dangerous vehicles and drivers off the road.
"The measures I am announcing today will make sure that
rogue operators have nowhere to hide by ensuring that VOSA
inspectors across Great Britain have all the powers they need to
stop vehicles that may pose a threat to road safety.
"These plans will also help VOSA to enforce the rules
governing the amount of domestic work hauliers from outside the UK
can undertake, helping to make sure that UK operators do not face
unfair competition for business.
"The new powers will also free up police time as VOSA
will be able to operate more independently."
Currently, VOSA inspectors can only independently stop drivers if
they suspect there is a fault with the vehicle – although they can
and do then check for other offences. These new plans would extend
VOSA's powers and allow their inspectors – without the
need for police assistance - to pull drivers over to check that
they are complying with rules on maximum weight limits, driving
hours, operator licensing and cabotage.
The planned changes will also include new measures to allow the
VOSA Chief Executive to authorise inspectors to stop vehicles
rather than needing to get accreditation from individual police
forces. This is a significant streamlining of bureaucratic process
and will free up VOSA time and resource to concentrate on
front-line enforcement.
The consultation can be found at
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/ and will close on 13 th
August 2010.
Notes to Editors:
1. In 2009/10 VOSA carried out roadworthiness checks on 173,951
heavy goods vehicles including 99,507 vehicles from outside the UK.
2. 12,232 roadworthiness checks were carried out on buses and coaches.
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