Dip updates danger regs
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• The rules for transporting explosives by road are to be up-dated in the summer says junior transport minister Peter Bottomley.
Bottomley told MPs that new Road Traffic (Carriage of Explosives) Regulations would provide up-to-date and coordinated controls covering all aspects of the moving of explosives by road, including the transport of ammunition.
The rules would deal with such matters as the marking of vehicles, training and instruction and what to do in the event of an accident.
Bottomley said the rules would reaffirm the existing ban on people who have been drinking being in any vehicle carrying explosives.
His announcement came in response to questions by Labour front bencher Paul Flynn who has called for improved security for the transport of ammunition, particularly from the US military base at RAF Caerwent in Wales.
His concern arose after a lorry driver was convicted by Chepstow magistrates for drink-driving at the end of last month. The driver had been drinking in the base the night before he had been due to take charge of the convoy.
Flynn, who has just become Labour's junior Welsh spokesman, said he feared the risk of an accident had increased ever since the movement of ammunition from Caerwent had been contracted out to a local commercial haulage firm without military escort.
Armed forces minister Ian Stewart told Flynn, in separate replies, that the driver had been detained by police for entering the secure storage area.
Flynn said he hoped the new rules would take the opportunity to tighten existing rules and strengthen security.
A Department of Transport spokesman confirmed they were designed to consolidate and improve existing rules that had built up over a period.
One of the key aims was to meet the needs of the road haulage industry given the developments in explosives.