1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140 
First speed traps...prepare for weight traps
Page 5
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The Vehicle Inspectorate plans to introduce sophisticated weighing equipment that can check a truck's weight without stopping it.
The system, which is already used in Holland, operates in a similar way to speed cameras. A weighing mechanism is built into the road; if an overloaded truck passes over the sensor a camera is triggered and the vehicle's registration number is captured.
According to a VI spokeswoman the system's introduction in the UK depends on the successful introduction of the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system the government is already triailing.
'We are watching the trials of ANPR with interest and examining how we could use it to our advantage," she adds. "We already have such a weighing system at the entry to our enforcement site in Weybridge, Surrey As trucks enter the site they pass over the plates in the road—those that are close to or exceeding permitted weights are directed to the standard weighbridge. Trucks under weight move directly to the other checks that we carry out."
It is unclear when the first such weighing system is likely to be in place but given the length of time it took to introduce mobile weigh pads, it will not be soon. See feature page 39.
• From April the VI will be carrying out an enhanced examination of tachographs as part of the annual test. Testers will be looking at the head, security seals, OIL switch covers and for any signs of tampering. Any truck with a faulty tacho will fall its test.
This follows a trial during which the VI discovered that 15% of trucks were operating without a properly functioning tachogragh.