Hanson discharge
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• Leading transport lawyer Jonathan Lay ton last weel criticised ICI for failing to provide facilities for check weighing axles when M F Hanson Transport, and on of the company's drivers, apeared before Knutsford Magistrates accused of overloading the third and fourth compensating axles of a 32-tonne artic.
The vehicle, which was loaded with rock salt, and driven by William Higson, had been stopped in a weight check after leaving the ICI works in Winsford. The compensating axles were overloaded by 1,710kg, some 9.3%.
Senior traffic examiner Keith Gill said that She weighbridge at ICI's Winsford premises could only show the overall weight. H agreed with Lawton that el ery vehicle was weighed IN fore leaving and ICI would not allow it to leave if it wr overweight. He did not believe ICI could have been prosecuted for permitting.
Questioned by Christopher Worthy, prosecuting for the North Western Tra fic Area, Higson said he judged the evenness of the load by eye and had never had to adjust a load. He agreed that it had taken hir an hour to redistribute the load, using a shovel, after being stopped in the check.
Lawton said that althoug ICI was well aware of the overloading law, it did not provide any facility for checking axle weights. In those circumstances, he maintained that ICI was causing or permitting axle overloading offences. The offence had arisen because it was not possible for the driver to check his axle weights. Both company and driver were given an absolu discharge.