VI promises to do better
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• The Vehicle Inspectorate promises improved enforcement in its latest business plan, with continuing cuts in its running costs coming to an end.
This year's target of a 3% efficiency improvement completes the 20% cuts in running costs that the Department of Transport demanded From 1993 until March next year. "Further efficiencies beyond those already achieved are limited if we are to maintain both the quantity and quality of our work and consequently our impact on road safety," says the VI's 1996/97 business plan. VI unions have criticised staffing levels for being too low to cope with commercial vehicle enforcement; they fear that around 150 clerical posts could still go from the VI's testing and enforcement divisions this year as the VI's £1 1m computer system comes on stream.
The plan's other aims include: The number of truck weighings will drop by 35% to 75,000, freeing staff to target law-breakers with more time spent checking drivers' hours and operator's premises.
_1 Roadworthiness checks on light goods vehicles will rise at the expense of VED and driver licensing checks.
Operators will be further encouraged to hold annual tests
on their own premises—the VI wants to double this practice to 80 sites.