Safety the key
Page 24
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Tn your 30 March issue
Andrew Thomas, a Welsh owner-driver expressed concern about Brake's efforts through Parliament to tighten up the controls, enforcement and punishment of rogue operators. He was worried that Brake's proposals would put extra burdens on the industry.
Reputable operators like Mr Thomas have nothing to fear from Brake. As Mr Thomas is keen to stress, he checks his lorries on the recommended six week basis. Nothing is left to chance, he says. If anything, a tighter system will help him—it will improve his finances as ratecutting cowboys are squeezed out.
There is an urgent need for a tightening up of the whole system. Licensing authorities are often amazingly lenient, and penalties in the courts are often below £100. Enforcement has been massively cut back. Almost anyone can get into the industry because vetting of applications is often minimal.
This is costing lives. Brake is addressing all these issues and has already tabled a heavy goods vehicle safety bill in the House, due for its second reading in July.! cannot believe that Mr Thomas thinks that relatives of lorry accident fatalities should accept that a company which ignores all the safety rules should be fined a few hundred pounds and allowed to carry on trading.
Mr Thomas asks who is supporting Brake in the industry. We have support from many small hauliers and many, many drivers. At the other end of the scale, Brake is receiving financial and moral support from Wincanton Distribution and Eddie Stobart.
Brake can understand that some hauliers may initially panic when somebody pops up and demands tighter legislation. Brake is not demanding a whole raft of new rules it is mainly asking that the current system is operated effectively.
Mr Thomas mentioned the possibility of six-monthly safety checks. Brake is currently consulting the industry on this point and welcomes comments. For details of Brake hauliers can call (01306) 740064.
Mary Williams
Director, Brake.
Close but not related
T was interested to read the larticle entitled 'Antipollution plan congestion threat' (CM 23-29 March). As you reported, my organisation, the Centre for the Exploitation of Science and Technology (CEST), is studying urban transport and distribution concepts as we believe the time is right for new initiatives. Indeed,
the Government's Technology Foresight report on transport makes similar observations.
I would just like to correct your reference to CEST as being part of the Department of Trade and Industry CEST is an independent organisation largely funded by industry but having excellent links into the DTi and, most importantly in this case of urban distribution, the Department of Transport and the Department of Environment, as well as many regional agencies. Dr Bob Whelan
Chief executive, CEST, London.