AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Driver's fury after TC Bell is 'too harsh'

14th March 2002, Page 8
14th March 2002
Page 8
Page 8, 14th March 2002 — Driver's fury after TC Bell is 'too harsh'
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• by Melanie Hammond Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell has come under fire from a driver whose licence was suspended for speeding even though there was evidence that he had reported the faulty speed limiter to his bosses.

Robert Scott, who worked for Widnes-based Gussion Transport, says Bell was far toe harsh; he does not plan to let the matter drop.

During a Vehicle Inspectorate check at Gussion last June the speed limiter in Scott's cab was found to be out of action. However, the company's defect books revealed that he had reported the problem correctly on more than one occasion.

While the company was taken to court and fined, Scott was not prosecuted. But he was subsequently called to a public inquiry where Bell banned him from driving an HGV for a month.

At the inquiry Bell noted that Scott had been fined for speeding in March 2000 and had three penalty points on his licence. While his speed limiter had been faulty, he alleges that he had kept to 60mpn on motorways. This breaches speed limiter regulations but is still within the legal motorway limit.

Scott says: "It seems to me that I've been penalised for the same offence twice and I don't intend to let it drop. The three points on my licence were nearly two years old—the only points I'd incurred since 1970."

He has written to his MP and to the Department of Transport but does not Intend to launch an appeal.

Bell says: "I took what I felt was appropriate action. I've been keen to raise the profile of speed limiter abuse which has an impact on road safety and on fair competition. There comes a time when a driver must do more than just report speed limiter problems."

Tags

Organisations: Department of Transport
Locations: Widnes

comments powered by Disqus