'Breakdown vehicles are the most unaccountable on British roads'
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,H eavy goods vehicles are potentially huge and lethal
weapons capable of inflicting massive damage, injury and death. On many occasions I've had to deal with the results of one going out of control because of a mechanical defect or overloading.
It can only be right that maintenance and weight restrictions on these vehicles are controlled and monitored by, among others, Plating and Testing Regulations. Most HGV operators know that they are thoroughly tested once a year by the Ministry vehicle examiners. But because of a mixture of obscure legislation, definitions and oversight, a large number of HGVs are escaping these regulations because they are classified as breakdown vehicles. The law says that unless a recovery vehicle is capable of carrying away a disabled vehicle in its entirety, it does not have to be plated or tested.
As a police officer responsible for enforcing traffic laws — and in particular the control and inspection of recovery vehicles for use on police call-out rotas — I find the situation unacceptable. I'm not the only one.
Responsible recovery operators find it unacceptable because they say it allows cowboys into the business. Recovery truck builders are also finding it difficult to adapt existing chassis. They suffer from a lack of guidelines for weights and loading and no after-check from an authorised body.
In addition, apparatus fixed on these recovery units is not subject to any compulsory test for suitability or defects. As a result, these breakdown vehicles are the most unaccountable of vehicles using British roads.
We are in urgent need of action before someone is killed or seriously injured by these vehicles.
The Department of Transport, law enforcement agencies and the haurage industry must pull together to get this unaccountability rectified.
This would benefit us all and make this huge grey area black and white. y