VI's dual role
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• I have followed your articles on enforcement and the concern being voiced by Licensing Authorities and enforcement managers.
The Vehicle Inspectorate has two separate functions: the first is to provide operators with an efficient, cost-effective test facility on a given day, at the same time as working within financial targets; especially important in view of the current proposals which indicate privatisation.
The second is to conduct spot-checks on national and international vehicles and ensure their ongoing roadworthiness, making sure they are working within the legislation.
These two functions can have two distinctive sets of customers. At the test station, all customers are the operators. The main job of enforcement staff is to ensure safety and fair competition.
I agree that all outside enforcement staff should be brought together, but not with the method. Traffic examiners were traditionally controlled from the area traffic office, with daily interface with the LAs. Why not have outside vehicle examiners coming under the same control?
There could also be a case for both vehicle and traffic examiners to be transferred to the Health and Safety Executive, Tom Mountain Ex-traffic examiner, South Shields.