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Spot checks are not enough
Page 15
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THE BIGGEST truck drivers' union has warned that enforcement efforts to get dangerous trucks off the road are only touching "the tip of the iceberg".
Ron Webb, national secretary for transport for the T&G section of the Unite union, made his remarks in the wake of a roadside check on M20 in Kent earlier this month (CM 12 July and this week's Investigation, p26) by Vosa. The check involved 56 vehicles and resulted in 22 immediate and 11 delayed prohibitions.
Webb said spot checks are welcome but are not a substitute for "consistent enforcement by properly resourced teams of inspectors-.
He added: "Tired drivers kill, and defective vehicles are like lethal weapons. Vosa has only touched the tip of the iceberg."
During the 18-hour check, Vosa targeted vehicles and drivers on international journeys to ensure they were obeying vehicle safety and drivers' hours rules.
Kevin Jury, senior vehicle examiner,said:"The results of these checks highlight the importance of Vosa's enforcement work,since we encountered a number of vehicles with multiple offences. The checks included a lorry with three severely defective tyres. a leaking fuel tank. and a missing shock absorber."
Another driver had been driving for 19 consecutive days without sufficient rest.Jury added.