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ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION

27th June 1996, Page 8
27th June 1996
Page 8
Page 8, 27th June 1996 — ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Crown Prosecution Service is failing the public by refusing to bring road traffic cases to court unless it has an 80% chance of getting a prosecution, a coroner told the Transport Select Committee last week.

When asked if fewer people were being prosecuted for incidents such as dangerous driving Michael Burgess, honorary secretary of the Coroners' sodety, told the MPs that the CPS was judging cases and dropping any it was unlikely to win. In the past the CPS would bring the cases if it believed it had a 50% chance of success, he added.

He also spoke of the "very serious problem" of wheel loss on large goods vehicles. Referring to one of his cases, in which a couple were killed when their car was struck by a lost truck wheel, he agreed with MP Matthew Banks' suggestion that the committee should insist on continued research into the problem.

Burgess said that the police and Vehicle Inspectorate had told him that they need resources to allow more time to physically examine vehicles stopped at roadside checks as they feel they are missing faults on lorries. Asked about his views on whether corporate manslaughter charges can be brought against operators whose vehicles are involved in fatal accidents, he told the committee that actions in such circumstances were problematic as it was often difficult to establish fault at the end of long chains of command.

Representatives of the Confederation of Passenger Transport said that coaches should be allowed back into the outside lanes of motorways as there is no evidence that they cause any danger. They also told the committee that CPT members should not have their vehicles checked on the hard shoulders of motorways as it was dangerous and passengers found it distressing.

In its written submission the CPT said it thinks the regulations on PSV enforcement are adequate and are generally observed.

PACTS, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, called for greater research into accidents in an attempt to identify their causes.


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