'Casual' 1CD escapes
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• North Western Licensing Authority Martin Albu has decided not to take any disciplinary action against Isle of Man-based ICD because the company's mainland licence expires in September. But the company had been very casual with regard to its obligations under the licensing system, he said.
Albu granted the company's application to change the operating centre of its international licence for four vehicles and four trailers from Kirkby to Huyton, on Merseyside.
Vehicle examiner Eric Bober said he had experienced difficulty contacting the company as it had moved to Huyton. He was told there was only one vehicle specified on the licence. The other vehicles and trailers were registered in the Isle of Man. No maintenance records or driver defect reports were made available. There were a number of vehicles and trailers at the operating centre, although only one vehicle was in regular use. He inspected three vehicles and five trailers and issued an immediate prohibition to a trailer for tyre defects In December 1992 a vehicle belonging to the company was involved in a multiple fatal accident. The trailer brakes were found to be out of adjustment and the parking brake inoperative.
Company secretary Ann Jones said the trailer issued with an immediate prohibition had not been used since the summer of 1993. The tyres had special tread for use on ferries. After the prohibition had been imposed, the tyres were inspected by the tyre company who said they were within the legal limits.
The company had not been prosecuted regarding the fatal accident, said Jones. It was the trailer's first journey since the brakes had been relined and they were bedding in. The driver was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
In reply to the LA, Jones said that Isle of Man vehicles could pick up a load in England but they could not pick up and deliver a load in England. The vehicle registered in England allowed them to pick up and deliver there. Ninety per cent of trailer maintenance was carried out in the Isle of Man where the maintenance records were kept. They had a continual problem in the UK as the Isle of Man does not have annual tests. They were constantly being asked to produce annual test certificates.
Albu commented that apart from the Isle of Man everywhere else in Europe vehicles were controlled by an Operator Licensing system.