Load security questioned
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• There were 2088 prosecutions in connection with goods vehicles carrying dangerous loads in England and Wales last year, reported Mr Richard Sharpies, Minister of State at the Home Office, in the Commons.
He was replying to Mr Michael Cocks (Labour, Bristol South) who had asked a series of questions about insecure loads. The MP suggested that the Environment Secretary should introduce legislation to ensure the covering of loads of loose material and loads of machinery with detachable parts.
But Mr Eldon Griffiths, Under-Secretary DoE, rejected this idea, adding that the Minister was preparing a code of practice on safe loading in consultation with industry.
Mr Griffiths noted that road safety spot checks including, where appropriate, checks on load security, were carried out on about 17,000 heavy goods vehicles each month by the Department's 181 traffic examiners.