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When trucks are bad they are very bad

18th September 1997
Page 6
Page 6, 18th September 1997 — When trucks are bad they are very bad
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Operators are getting better but the bad are getting worse, according to the results of the latest Operation Mermaid check on the roadworthiness of HGVs.

Vehicle Inspectorate examin. ers stopped 2,782 vehicles on 10 September as part of the nationwide clampdown, and served 752 prohibitions-365 immediate and 387 delayed. And police stopped 2,820 vehicles and issued a further 73 immediate prohibitions.

The results reveal a higher incidence of mechanical defects than detected when the last Operation Mermaid was mounted in June, but the number of vehicles clear of any offence— some 2,016—also represents an increase on the previous check.

Faulty brakes remain the most common defect, followed by steering and tyre defects.

At the 74 VI checkpoints across England, Scotland and Wales, one in six of the 412 British vehicles weighed were prohibited for overloading, while an examination of 156 foreign' vehicles resulted in 31 prohibitions issued for drivers' hours offences and overloading.

Operation Mermaid is a continuing joint initiative co-ordinated by West Midlands police: another check is expected before the end of the year.

PC Bob Nockells of West Midlands police says the figures are disturbing.

But he adds: 'I feel we are targeting the minority. There are a lot of responsible companies out there operating above the law, but there is always the cowboy element."

Tags

Organisations: West Midlands police
People: Bob Nockells

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