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Drivers cause truck crashes
Page 6
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Rogue drivers are once again in the firing line as the enforcement authorities warn them over their
behaviour Louise Cole reports.
CM EXCLUSIVE A TRAFFIC Commissioner has pinpointed dangerous drivers as the cause of truck-related accidents. saying they are far more significant than poor maintenance.
Talking exclusively to CA1 at a recent FTA Welsh lunch, West Midlands and Welsh Traffic Commissioner David Dixon said he was "extremely concerned" about the fatality rate among HG' drivers and the road-safety implications of dangerous practices such as tailgating.
"Accidents are caused by drivers," he added. -Most of my colleagues would agree with my general views on this Tailgating, a refusal to let other trucks overtake. tiredness— these things cause accidents. Vehicle maintenance is important. but most trucks meet a high standard. The drivers are the crucial factor."
Last year41 HGV drivers died in their trucks. "That's terrible." said Dixon. "That's almost one a week yet what is being done? Contrast it with the public reaction if a policeman dies in the course of his duty." He stressed that drivers must take personal responsibility for driving within their hours: "This is of particular concern with agency drivers, because systems to monitor agency drivers are confounded if the driver lies."
His comments come as North Wales police warn it is only a matter of time before a catastrophic pile-up is caused by over-tired 1 IG V drivers on the A55.
The statement from Chief Superintendent Geraint Anwyl follows his recent attack on "rogue drivers" during Radio 4's File on linir programme.
Anwyl says: "We've identified an increase in the numbers of goods vehicle drivers who are employed by largely unregulated agencies, and there's evidence that a number of drivers are being compelled to drive excessive hours in breach of all regulations in order to achieve delivery times."
Police figures show that out of 479 drivers stopped in North Wales during a three-month period this summer. 166 were found to be driving illegally long hours. The majority of offenders were driving vehicles registered in the Republic of Ireland.
• A police operation targeting trucks on the A350 in Wiltshire has found that 70% of those checked were committing drivers' hours or otherserious offences that merited enforcement action.
Wiltshire police immediately condemned the findings of the sixhour operation: "A worrying num her of vocational driversshow scant regard for drivers' hours rules. The rules exist to safeguard public safety and it concerns us that 70% of those stopped in a random check required us to Lake enforcement action."