VI blames DOT for weighpad delays
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by Karen Miles • Overloaded lorries are escaping detection at roadside checks because Department of Transport red tape is delaying the introduction of mobile weighpads, says the Vehicle Inspectorate.
In an unusual display of an executive agency blaming its political master, the VI says it has been waiting "four or five months" for the DOT to publish a code of practice for the weighpads' use. Only when a legally watertight code of practice has been agreed between the VI, Trading Standards and the DOT can the V1 start tendering for sets of mobile weighers; first for further trials, then for nationwide use.
Following successful early weighpad tests the VI wanted to show the equipment in action to the Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association. It had planned to do this at roadside checks in January. But the lack of progress on the code of practice has led the VI to consider running these tests without waiting for the finished code. "It may be we have to conduct these trials without the code or we might be bogged down forever," says Eastern Traffic Area enforcement manager Chris Broster, who is running the tests.
The VI wants to carry out surprise roadside checks for up to 20% of its total weighingssome 15,000—with the remainder handled by its 70 fixed weighbridges. It blames the DOT delays on disruption caused by the general election and other work taking greater priority at the Department.