VOSA: ‘We’re making progress’
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By Christopher Walton VOSA REVEALS IT is making signiicant progress in implementing the indings of the Transport Select Committee report into its operational effectiveness.
VOSA chief operating oficer Alex Fiddies tells CM there are big advantages in checking vehicles at the point of embarkation, and VOSA is seeking a working relationship with the ports.
He says: “We welcome the report in that it recognises a lot of the good work we are doing. Some of the recommendations we have had are coming to fruition, and if the Transport Select Committee were to come back in three months they would see better resourced activities at the road side.” He also welcomes calls for greater support for VOSA enforcement activities, saying: “When someone says to me would I like more resources, I do not know anyone who would say ‘no’ to that. But the issue with new resources is how do you deploy them effectively?” Jack Semple, director of policy at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), adds: “We have gone a long way to sort [road safety] out, but there is still a long way to go. This is a real issue, and one that needs to be highlighted to the general public.
He says: “It is not just about road safety but about fair competition, and fair competition is not one of VOSA’s key objectivities.
“We are asking the Department for Transport to address that.”