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MARTIN BARNES Project manager operational logistics Nauru!
Page 38
Page 39
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Highbridge, Somerset Martin Barnes is pleased the UK is finally catching up with its EU cousins roadside penalties have been a feature on the Continent for many years.
But he is adamant there must be strict rules in place to prevent Britain's penalty system being smeared with the same reputation as Continental roadside tines.
The problem is that over the years penalties in mainland Europe have acquired a certain reputation. It was always assumed the money went into the back pocket of the official dishing out the fine.
"That's because you usually got stopped late at night or in the early hours of the morning when nobody was around back in the UK to call -so you usually ended up just paying."
Barnes shares concerns about whether Vosa is the right body to hand out fines and endorsements.
"Vosa has morale problems and a lot of its staff aren't happy. Plus, there should be an appeals process," he adds. "But anything that brings a level playing field with Europe has to be welcomed.'
CHARLES BURKE TRS Engineering Rhonda Valley Charles Burke is against the whole idea, mainly because, in many cases, the fault or defect may not be due to the driver, yet he may feel under pressure to pay up.
"I think it's a very bad idea. Let's say the vehicle develops an air leak, or a headlight goes. The driver might have done all his daily checks but these faults developed on the journey.
But he would get pulled over and might have to pay with his own credit card -and he might not get that money back from his employer."
As for foreign drivers, Burke shares the view that a better system would be a 'point-of-entry' tax for all vehicles entering the UK.
ED PARGETER Director, EP Training Leatherhead, Surrey Ed Pargeter's verdict sums up those of most of the panel.
"This is long overdue and very welcome. It's an extremely good idea if it stops foreign drivers coming into the UK overweight and exceeding
Ed Pargeler
drivers' hours.
"At the moment, it's very difficult to prosecute them because they simply Leave the country. At least this system means they'll have to pay a certain amount."
Pargeter also believes most law-abiding drivers and hauliers have little to fear from Vosa having extended powers. That's because the agency, under its Operator Compliance Risk Score programme, tends to use its 'traffic light' system to home in on rogue hauliers or those with a poor track record, rather than just relying on random spot checks to trap offenders.
"If you're on red under the system, your trucks are much more likely to be pulled over. If you're on green, they don't worry about you as much."
NEIL JAMES Hunts of Redditch Redditch, Worcs Neil James believes that on a day-to-day basis his company has little to fear from the proposals.
"I can only remember two of my drivers being in court in the last 20 years," he explains. "But one reason Is that, in the removals business, we don't get that close to the hills on drivers' hours because a lot of time is spent loading and unloading."
One key issue, he says, is what happens to foreign vehicles if the driver is asked for a deposit until the case comes to court but is unable to pay. The fear is he will simply head for the port to dodge paying up.
"If he couldn't move the vehicle until it is paid, that would end the problem," says James. "That's what the Spanish and French police do to us."
The proposed rules do allow for a truck to be barred from the road until someone has paid up, and external contractors could even be hired to immobilise trucks to stop foreign drivers getting away.
KEVIN BROOKE Fleetmaster Operational Support Services Leeds Another dissenting voice, Kevin Brooke backs fines for foreign drivers but is vehe mently opposed to Vosa being granted these extended powers: "I totally agree in principle, but those kinds of powers must stay with the police.
"Vasa staff are not officers of the law and this is a police duty. Its open to misinterpretation or abuse. Doing police work is not their role. If Vosa stops someone and finds out something is wrong, its duty should be to report it to the police and get them to impose the f be."