'The industry cannot escape blame for every accident involving lorries'
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of all accidents involving lorries are the fault of the owner or driver. A recent fatal accident on the Al reported on local television was headlined, "Fatal accident in head-on collision between lorry and car." Only later in the report did it become clear that the car driver had probably caused the accident. However, the haulage industry cannot escape blame For every accident involving lorries. The accident at Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, in which six people died, is a tragic example of what can happen when a lorry is not well maintained. There are regulatory systems which aim to prevent such accidents.
The Goods Vehicle Operator Licensing System and supporting enforcement activity are vital for road safety in seeking to raise and maintain high professional standards within the industry—particularly by ensuring operators have preventative maintenance arrangements to help avoid using mechanically unsound vehicles on the roads. IF the licensing system works properly it ought to reduce the number of truck accidents where mechanical defects area major factor. Licensing controls are
also aimed at regulating driver speeding and hours of work as both vehicle speed and driver fatigue contribute to accidents. As a Traffic Commissioner, I require a licence holder to demonstrate that he or she has the necessary professional expertise, equipment, staff, facilities, procedures and record keeping systems to ensure that vehicles will be properly maintained and fit For use on public roads.
My aim is to ensure that all who operate goods vehicles are properly licensed. I try to persuade those who are operating illegally to recognise the benefits of becoming licence holders and to join the system. I take this approach first because traffic commissioners do not have the power to confiscate vehicles operating illegally and second because the fines imposed by magistrates on illegal operators are too low to act as a positive deterrent. It is preferable to encourage operators to enter the licensing system so that their professional performance may be regularly monitored and reviewed.
Because vehicle safety and lawful use ore so important, I emphasise to the industry that a good quality operator will want to ensure that dynamic management control systems exist to monitor and review the safe and lawful operation of the business.
Among other things, a competent operator should create an understanding of the reasons for road safety regulations and a positive approach to road and vehicle safety by drivers and other staff. The operator should react promptly to police or VI concerns about maintenance systems, staffing levels, facilities, accident rates, poor test results and public complaints about driver behaviour.
The haulier has a duty to ensure the transport industry's public image is enhanced by responsible and safe activi rather than diminished bIa slipshod and corner cutting approach, 0 Keith Waterworth presented these views at a conference last month at the University of Huddersfield on Reducing Commercial Vehicle Accidents.