MA RSHA STREE T S W Pressure group Brake promised to continue its
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
campaign for tougher enforcement after Road Safety Minister Steven Norris refused to accede to its demands.
Norris told Brake's patron, Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, that current penalties against law-breaking hauliers are "sufficient". But he promised that he will not let the Vehicle Inspectorate put road safety at risk when it implements its 20% efficiency gains.
Norris said he is still waiting for the VI, traffic areas and industry to show him that there is a "sizeable" proportion of law-breakers in the industry before he considers introducing impounding of illegal vehicles.
But after Monday's meeting (6 March), Brake campaign director Mary Williams accused Norris of being "frustratingly complacent". She said: "Our feeling is that Norris is hoping the problem will go away. But we will grow in number and we will continue to collate evidence on cuts in enforcement and the level of law-breaking."
Dunwoody tabled a Commons debate on lorry safety for yesterday (8 March) and on 21 March she will schedule a Heavy Goods Vehicle Safety 10-minute rule bill.