1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140 
P ROAD SP
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
New conspicuity regulations delayed
CONSPICUITY rules, which would have made retro-reflective markings on the rear and sides of newly-registered trucks mandatory, have been delayed until 2011.
In a written statement to the House of Commons, Paul Clark, Parliamentary under-secretary of state for Transport, said: -In view of the economic situation. I am announcing that, to reduce regulatory costs on vehicle manufacturers and the haulage industry, this measure will not become mandatory for new vehicle registrations until 10 July 2011."
EC Directive 2007/35/EC states that new vehicles need to fit retro-reflective markings a tape that works on a similar principle to cats' eyes in the road to increase the visibility of a vehicle on the road, which should reduce the risk of accidents. It was due to come into force on 10 October. Freight Transport Association director of communications Jo Tanner says that with the rule applying only to new vehicles, and not requiring a need for retrospective fitting of reflective tape, the impact on UK hauliers would have been minimal.
It makes a change for the government to listen to the concerns of the industry, hut it is a shame it does not listen hard when it comes to bigger issues.
"We have been fairly agnostic on the issue because of the relatively slight impact it would have had. But we hope it will open up some room for discussion on the wider safety picture. and make sure our fleet in the UK is as safe as it can be."