The price of speed
Page 8
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The one thing guaranteed to draw attention to a faulty speed limiter is. ..excessive speed. The case brought against a TDG (UK) driver was only started after his vehicle was seen easily overtaking on a motorway. So be warned: if you find your trucks are zipping along faster than usual, check their limiters are working properly before somebody else does it for you.
If you or your drivers are tempted to "modify" your limiters, bear in mind that you might as well fix a "How's my speeding?" sign to the back of your rig. And don't forget: your chances of being caught are higher than ever, given the extra effort the VI is putting into roadside enforcement (see left).
• It's good news that an extra f15m is being made available to compensate firms for loss of business because of foot and mouth. But it's bad news that the sum is so small, even compared with conservative estimates of the costs of foot and mouth to Britain plc.
And how much of it will eventually filter down to the haulage trade is another debatable issue. Our advice is, if you think you might have a claim, get it in without delay.
• Anyone looking for evidence that the price of fuel remains too high in this country need look no further than this week's story about fuel thefts (see page 9).
It might be cheaper than before the Budget, but in the UK diesel remains valuable enough to be worth stealing. Stories of similar skullduggery abroad are comparatively few and far between. Gordon Brown and chums, please take note.