RB&D Smith on road again
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III Bridlingtonbased RB&D Smith has won a fresh licence, despite having its licence revoked last September after its only vehicle was persistently driven at excess speeds by the company's three directors.
licence for two vehicles and two trailers at a Leeds public inquiry before Deputy LA Brian Horner, having operated under interim authority since the beginning of September.
For the corn pany, Jim Duckworth said that Robert Smith, his wife Doreen and his son Steven had never been involved in an accident The drivers' hours limits had never been exceeded, proper rest had always been taken and there had been no attempt to interfere with the tachograph.
Most of the speeding had occurred late at night, early in the morning and on motorways. There was no evidence that it had caused danger to anyone.
Robert Smith said that the revocation had cost the company a considerable amount of money. The family had been shattered, sickened and embarrassed, and it had been very demoralising They had fitted a speed limiter before the last hearing and had since fitted a more accurate, tamper-proof model.
Duckworth said that since the grant of the interim authority the company's tachograph charts had been analysed every week by an outside agency. No infringements had been found.
In reply to the DLA, Smith said that it had been a salutary lesson, very much regretted. They had paid a very high price and now left nothing to chance.
Granting the licence, Horner said that he had received very good references from the company's bank and customers. The Smiths clearly now accepted their responsibilities and control mechanisms were in place to see that it did not happen again.
But Horner warned that if things went wrong again the Smiths would incur a very severe penalty.