Senior IC to question !veal about limiters
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• by Michael Jewell Senior Traffic Commissioner Michael Betts is to invite Iveco Ford to comment on the quality of its speed limiters and the apparent ease with which drivers can over-ride them.
He also wants to know what steps have been taken to remedy the situation.
This was made plain by Betts when he revoked the Operator's Licence held by Aberdeen-based East Coast Roadways and disqualified the firm's partners, John Hendry and Robert Mathers, from holding an 0-licence indefinitely.
During an Aberdeen disciplinary hearing, traffic examiner Joanne Warner told Betts that a check on the firm's tacho charts for December revealed that the abuse of speed limiters was rife by eight of the firm's drivers, including Mathers.
It appeared that if a driver of an lveco Ford equipped with a Twin Splitter gearbox partially depressed the clutch and revved the engine at the same time he could disengage the limiter. It only came back into action after the engine had been stopped and restarted.
The firm, which held an 0licence for 10 vehicles and 14 trailers, was appearing at its fourth
public inquiry since 1987.
Making the revocation and disqualification orders, Betts said that the partners no longer met the requirement to be of good repute. This was aggravated by the fact that Mathers, who should have exercised responsibility and lead ership, was himself pre pared to over-ride the limiter.
The fact that he could act like that five months after a previous public inquiry beggared belief, said the IC.
It showed a total disregard for the law, an appalling attitude and a cynical disregard to road safety, he concluded.