Seven drivers lose licences for abuse of speed limiters
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Interfering with speed limiters has led to an eight-week suspension of nine of the 20 vehicles operated in the North West by Ken Thomas. The seven drivers involved have had their HGV driving licences revoked for periods ranging from six weeks to four months.
The drivers concerned and representatives of the Wisbech-based company appeared before North Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell.
Traffic examiner Geoffrey Whitley said it was not overstating matters to say speed limiter abuse was rife within the company. An examination of the vehicles in September led to 10 prohibition notices, as it was clear speed limiters had been tampered with.
Some of the vehicles were dis playing Eastern Traffic Area 0 speed limit infringements had been reported.
Driver Alan Clark had disabled his Volvo's speed limiter by removing the tachograph and cutting into the system's wiring. Tacho charts found in the cab showed excessive speeds.
Asked why Clark was later brought into the office as a supervisor, depot manager David Ellis said this had happened before the problems came to light. However, he admitted Clark had been dismissed and subsequently reinstated.
The TC said: "A 38-tonne vehicle travelling in excess of the permitted speed limit poses a danger to other road users. The drivers in this case had no regard for the legislation and took the law into their own hands, and the company's response was woefully inadequate.
"I have a duty to set standards, and I feel I licence discs, but were in should take strong action to send out a fact being operated from message to drivers and operators," she Middlewich. added.
The company claimed She considered that the company had its tachographs had been been both negligent and reckless, and sent to an outside bureau rected the suggestion that yellow paint for analysis, and that no seals had been broken by vibration.