RHA slams French
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• The Road Haulage Association has condemned the highwayman-like actions of French hauliers and farmers who have been attacking UK trucks.
It is calling on Transport Secretary Malcolm Rifkind to take a tougher line with the French government, which, it says, is failing to maintain law and order.
UK truck drivers have repeat edly been set upon and hindered in recent months. French farm workers have beaten up drivers carrying lamb and burnt their loads. Fishermen have stopped truckers with UK-caught fish from entering France, and owner-drivers protesting against rates have brought chaos to French motorways.
RHA director general Bryan Colley has called on the French to "put their house in order in support of their Community aims". He says "continuing and flagrant attacks on British lorries legitimately travelling through France under EC rules are increasing tensions in the international road haulage community."
He adds: "The right of transit and trade is not being enforced and as a result British hauliers are losing financially . . . This situation has been tolerated for too long and the time has come for a much stronger line. Words seemingly are not enough,"