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A2 check nany charges

21st June 1986, Page 4
21st June 1986
Page 4
Page 5
Page 4, 21st June 1986 — A2 check nany charges
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Tachograph

• Operators face hundreds of prosecutions, and the industry a worsening of its public image, following a four-hour vehicle check on the A2 in Kent last week.

Over 46% of the 530 vehicles stopped by police on the Dover-bound section of the A2 at Falconwood had defects. Many face prosecution.

Over six in every 10 commercial vehicles passing were stopped by police, and commercial vehicles eventually made up around 430 of the 530 vehicle total.

All the authorities involved in the huge combined operation — the police, Department of Transport, Department of Trade, Customs and Excise and Weights and Measures — are proclaiming it a success, and fully justified.

It is only the second of its kind in South East England — the first was in May (CM, May 17) — but more swoops are predicted on other roads by its co-ordinator, Inspector Colin Clark of the South-East traffic unit.

He complained that limited resources mean that the operation cannot be as frequent as he would like.

Enforcement authorities elsewhere in the country will also watch the results with terest. South East DTp se traffic examiner John Allen CM.

One of the worst cases involved a local haulier's e4 wheeled tipper which was E corted away for prosecutiot Its steering was defective, steering joint was loose wit detachment imminent, it wi suffering from a serious die leak and there were also seven other defects.

60 hour ban

DTp men also caught a Portuguese operated coach whose driver had been driv continuously for 26 days wi out statutory rest periods. driver was placed under a hour driving prohibition and to remain in the UK for the duration, and an English dri was arranged to take the ix sengers to Dover.

"That coach is a prime example of what we're her eradicate," Clark told CM.

Altogether there were 1: tachograph and records offences discovered. Thirty-f drivers were reported for total of 189 mechanical offences, and their companie: face prosecution too.

There were 16 GV9 pro bitions, of which eight wen immediate. Those eight vehicles had a total of 73 di fects between them.

Of the 28 vehicles direct to Crayford weighbridge, fi were cautioned and five fac summonses for overloadin One of the 28 failed to turn but is to be pursued by the DTp.

Three illegal CB radios were seized, and one commercial vehicle was found t be using illegal lower tax r€ diesel.

The check's results have been universally condemne as "deplorable" by the Roa Haulage Association and er ronnaental pressure group Transport 2000.

The RHA said it is glad t the check occurred and tha there is a need for more en forcement; but it also state,

if all, not just some, of the ;ing vehicles had been iped, far fewer than 46% of vehicles would have reed defects. Suspiciousing vehicles are stopped , it says.

ransport 2000 assistant ctor Susie Ohlenschlager that she was not surprised at the results. "There are not enough resources put into enforcement and so these offences crop up."

Opposition transport spokesman Peter Snape told CM: "It is terrifying to say the least that the nation's transport lifeline is evidently in the hands of a minority of irresponsible

hauliers."

He pledged to follow up the matter with a series of Commons questions.

"If law enforcement is properly carried out nationwide, presumably our courts would be clogged up, but our roads would be a lot safer."


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