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HSE 'agrees to spread word' on truck seat-belt campaign
Page 18
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By Chris Tindai: THE HEALTH & Safety Executive (HSE) has written to MP Alan Milburn offering practical support for a campaign to ensure all lorries are fitted with seat-belts, following the death of a young driver.
HSE chief executive Geoffrey Podger told Milburn that the organisation would be pleased to assist the parents of 23-year-old tanker driver Peter Williams by sending messages to the public and transport firms about the dangers of driving without seat-belts.
Williams was driving a Calor Gas tanker near Wolsingham, County Durham, when it veered off a road and somersaulted down a 50ft embankment, before landing on a tourist railway.
The driver was praised as a hero for using his mobile phone to warn of a potential explosion before he lost consciousness (`Hero driver dies after crash', CM 26 July 2007).
Since the accident, his parents have campaigned for all vehicles to be fitted with seat-belts.
Earlier this year, Mark and Jan Williams met Department for Transport (DfT) minister Jim Fitzpatrick and Darlington MP Milburn. who has written to trade associations and the HSE on the matter.
Milburn says: -It's really good news that the HSE has agreed to help spread the word to haulage firms that seat-belts should be fitted in lorries. I hope we receive equally positive support from the Dff following our meeting with Fitzpatrick." Since October 2001, all new vehicles over 3.5 tonnes have been required by law to be fitted with seat-belts.
The DfT estimates that in 2006, there were still 266.000 HGVs registered before October 2001.
However, in April, Fitzpatrick admitted following a Parliamentary question from Milburn that the DfT does not collect data on the numbers of fatalities or injuries involving HGV drivers where no seat-belts were fitted.
An HSE spokeswoman says it has offered support to the DfT on road safety issues where relevant. She adds: -We offered to help disseminate information or advice; anything we can do to help."