Twin swoops on trucks
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• Almost half the trucks stopped by vehicle inspectors in one of Britain's largest-ever spot checks have been found to be mechanically faulty.
Of the 230 vehicles examined by the Vehicle Inspectorate in South Wales last week, 109 were issued with prohibition notices — 40 with immediate effect and 69 delayed.
The eight-hour check on the M4 near Junction 34 last Wednesday (10 October) was part of a larger operation involving the VI, Customs, police, Department of Transport, Department of Trade and local authority officials.
Of the 898 vehicles checked more than 25% were found to have faults. Out of the 96 vehicles weighed, nine were found to be overweight. More than 200 tachograph and hours offences were discovered.
Only eight foreign vehicles were stopped, but four of them were issued with prohibition notices. A German driver was fined 2300 for faulty tyres at Pontypridd magistrates on the morning after the check.
The VI recorded 264 defects in the 109 trucks it found faulty, including 33 brake related problems, 17 steering, 31 chassis-related, 18 tyres, 13 lights, 31 fuel/smoke emissions 17 power transmission and 20 body faults. However, the inspectorate expects that less than 25% of its prohibitions will result in prosecutions.
In the first eight months of the year the VI issued prohibition notices on 17% of the 52,710 vehicles it stopped, compared with a prohibition rate of 20.4% on 78,110 vehicles in 1989. • The London Boroughs Transport Scheme plans to expand its enforcement unit and to set up more spot checks.
Last week the LBTS made its first swoop on the City of London.
Out of the 43 vehicles stopped, 16 had no permits or plates. The check was held on Southwark Bridge.
Another LBTS operation on 10 October in the London Borough of Merton found that half of the 22 vehicles checked were in breach of the lorry control traffic order.