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Safety of foreign vehicles on UK roads
Page 31
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Vasa data shows that, on average, foreignregistered trucks are less roadworthy than their UK counterparts and are more likely to be overloaded. Only France has a lower rate of hours prohibitions than the UK, and only the Netherlands and Denmark have a lower rate of roadworthiness prohibitions. Not surprisingly, the most common foreignregistered trucks on British roads are French.
Under 1% of all foreign-registered vehicles in the UK were involved in accidents in 2005, according to DfT f igures. Of these foreign vehicles. 75% were lefthand drive, 12% were right-hand drive and 13% were two-wheelers. Some 47% of the foreign vehicles were LGVs -the majority of which were left-hand drive.
Of the 1,031 foreign-registered lefthand-drive LGVs involved in accidents. 443 (43%) were either changing lanes or overtaking on a dual carriageway. Of those LGVs that were changing lanes at the time of the accident, 409 were changing lane to the right and 14 were changing lane to the left. The difference is thought to be the consequence of the reduced field of view on the right-hand side of the vehicle.
C/Vtested a possible solution to this problem earlier this year, with good reviews. Drivers of UK-bound left-hookers which pass through the French Channel ports are being handed one of 40,000 free Fresnel blind-spot lenses to improve their view of overtaking traffic. CM's verdict. "Overall, the lens is a winner we believe every left-hand-drive truck in the UK should have one fitted.'
Also, the European Commission is looking at a directive that would require all trucks to be fitted with sufficient mirrors and lenses to have a complete all-round view of the cab. If the directive passes, it would become compulsory from 2009.
UK drivers entering Europe or foreign drivers entering the UK can currently do so without any additional training. The current law on visitors entering the UK from the European community states: "Licences issued in the European Community and European Economic Area [EC/FEN make up two groups that are treated equally.
If you hold a valid community licence and are visiting GB, you can drive any vehicle if your licence is valid. The appropriate full entitlement for the vehicle you wish to drive must be shown on your licence."
The same goes for UK drivers heading into Europe: You may use your GB licence for driving in other European Community/European Economic Area member states."