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FOREIGNERS MUST FOLLOW OUR RULES
Page 3
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Not surprisingly there was no shortage of outrage following last week's Radio 4 File on Four programme which uncovered some of the more dubious practices which have always infested our industry. As ever, the actions of the cowboy minority grabbed all the headlines.
Be outraged, by all means— but there's little point trying to defend these drivers and operators; they have no place in 21st century road transport.
For us the most worrying aspect of the File on Four report was VOSAS apparent lack of investment in effective enforcement, particularly when it comes to foreign trucks on UK roads. For example. the rantings of the North Wales police chief were concentrated on foreign truck drivers running through his patch, not British drivers. This highlights the fact that the UK authorities are virtually powerless when it comes to stopping and penalising foreign trucks using our roads.
Anyone who uses the highways and byways of the UK will be aware of the issues regarding foreign trucks: speeding, dubious driving practices and a mounting number of motorway accidents involving left-hookers.
Last May we reported Kent police were planning a study into accidents involving foreign vehicles to assess the scale of the problem. We did ring them this week to follow up the story, so far with no response.
It seems that every day the M25 is clogged up by yet another left-hand-drive truck side-swiping an overtaking car. Millions are lost in congestion, missed appointments and delivery slots as the roads grind to a halt, never mind the physical damage to drivers and their vehicles. Yet still nothing gets done. We don't need a report from Kent police to tell us this is a major problem; we urgently need action to tighten up procedures. Here are our suggestions: • Every vehicle entering the UK must be equipped with blindside visibility devices • Mandatory tachograph checks at the ports before vehicles leave the country • On-the-spot fines for offending vehicles.
The UK road transport industry has invested a lot of effort in raising its game over the past 10 years; we can't afford to stand idly by while our foreign competitors show such a blatant disregard for the law.
That, on top of their lower running costs, is adding insult to injury.
"The authorities are virtually powerless when it comes to stopping foreign trucks"