AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

COMMENT

5th February 1998
Page 8
Page 8, 5th February 1998 — COMMENT
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE

ore's one for latin scholars. Address the following passage: 'Null; vendemus, null! negabimus out differemus, rectum out justitiom." For those of us deprived of a classical education, it translates as: "To no man will we sell, or deny, or delay, right or justice." It's not often that Commercial Motor has cause to quote from Magna Carta (for that's whence this praiseworthy sentiment originates) but the acquittal of Fewston Transport's former transport manager Eric Preston on a charge of manslaughter does show "justice" in action (see page 5). Whether the relatives of the six people killed at Sowerby Bridge by one of the company's tippers consider that justice has been done is open to debate. Certainly nobody can be pleased with the way the case proceeded: even the lawyer defending Preston felt moved to declare that the quality of investigation left much to be desired. He also called on the Government to use rapid-response accident investigation teams to kelp speed up the wheels of justice. He's got a point. Whenever there's a plane crash the Department of Transport dispatches a team from the Air Accident Investigation Branch. This specialist organisation is directly responsible to the Transport Secretary, and its job is to determine the cause of a crash as quickly as possible. By way of contrast, investigating even the most serious road acci dents is left to the local police or, if they can't handle it, the Vehicle Inspectorate. The police have enough on their plates as it is, and the VI is facing the possibility of budget cuts. What's needed is a simi lar outfit to the AAIB for roads. After all, far more people are killed on the roads every year than in the air. It really is about time that we got our priorities sorted out—if only for the sake of justice.

Tags

Organisations: Department of Transport
People: Eric Preston

comments powered by Disqus