Crackdown soon on radioactive loads
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• Tough new regulations governing the transportation of radioactive material by road will soon be introduced.
The Radioactive Material (Road Transport) Bill passed its third reading in the Commons last Friday. It will enable Government inspectors to search premises, inspect vehicles and packages and ban vehicle movements.
A team of 10 new inspectors will be appointed to administer the regulations and they will be assisted by 215 traffic examiners. They will have the power to issue enforcement notices — failure to comply will result in the prosecution of the offenders.
The Bill was steered through the Commons by Conservative backbencher Dudley Fishburn, who said that it will enable new rules to be set that govern the way 500,000 shipments of radioactive material go by road every year.
It is the first new legislation to affect the transportation of radioactive material by road since the Radioactive Substances Act 1948 and complies with international standards governed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
However, Labour shadow transport minister Joan Walley told CM that she wants the Bill toughened to include more inspectors and spot checks on highways.
El Hauliers who carry hazardous goods will have to appoint a safety officer under new EC proposals.
Member states will also have to harmonise training programmes for drivers of dangerous loads.