TGWU calls for tougher action
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• Calls for tougher penalties on operators not maintaining vehicles have come after no prosecutions resulted from a check which found nearly half of vehicles were too dangerous to continue their journey.
Maurice Britton, the Transport & General Workers Union's northern regional officer, says the action taken on the eight-hour check in Bradford was "diabolical". About 25 British-registered trucks were given immediate prohibitions.
"Even when operators are put forward for prosecution the fine is too low, at a couple of hundred pounds ," says Britton.
At least half the trucks ordered off the road in the checks at Laisterdyke, West Bowling and Drighlington, were had faulty brakes. Another 13 trucks were given defect notices and six were given delayed prohibitions on 4 August.
H Of 48 British trucks weighed in a trading standards check on the A13 at Purfleet, Essex, 17 were overloaded—five by more than 10%.