15-05-06 Operation Atlanta Returns Impressive Results
Operation Atlanta, run by VOSA (the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) as the first trial check for the South East International Transport Pilot, took place last month, returning some very impressive results. The operation took place over three days (24 hour checks) in early April with the aim of checking large volumes of lorries on international journeys.The operation was held at locations across Kent including Dover Port, Coquelle (Euro-Tunnel), Ashford M20, Boughton A2/M2 and the Dartford Crossing, and also in Surrey at J9 of the M25. The sites were manned by VOSA officers, and supported by staff from VOSA’s Intelligence Unit, Highways Agency (HA), and Kent, Met and Surrey Police Forces.
Results
The operation recorded a total of 1594 encounters, 896 of which were conducted by Vehicle Examiners (VEs); 729 by Traffic Examiners (TEs) (240 vehicles were also weighed). In total 499 prohibitions were issued.
HGVs: Checked 446; prohibitions 145
Trailer roadworthiness: Checked 419; prohibitions 147
Drivers’ hours: Checked 729; prohibitions 177
Overloading: Checked 240; prohibitions 30
Some of the most interesting cases included:
Portuguese vehicle checked entering at Dover was then stopped the following day, apparently being operated by a different driver. However, investigations revealed that it was the same driver who had in fact falsified his name on two sets of Tachograph records to enable him to exceed drivers’ hours rules. At Leatherhead, a Hungarian loaded trailer was issued with a prohibition for an insecure nearside third axle wheel. The wheel had three nuts missing, the others were very loose, were not mating with the wheel face, and the spigot was badly worn due to the movement between wheel and hub. (Pictures of the wheel are available on request.)
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NOTES TO EDITOR:
Background info on the South East International Transport Pilot
VOSA and HA have agreed to pilot enhanced enforcement working, targeting HGVs on international journeys in the South East of England, where such traffic is greatest and the road safety, road wear, competition and congestion issues are most acute. The pilot will run under the overarching HA/VOSA Partnership Agreement signed last year.
The aim is to enhance VOSA’s enforcement capability and effectiveness, thereby reducing levels of offending (particularly drivers’ hours, overloading and roadworthiness) and to measure the effect that this has on the number of non-recurrent congestion incidents caused by HGVs in the area.
VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) is responsible for:
• Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services
• Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT testing scheme
• Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations
• Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements
• Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements
• Providing training and advice for commercial operators
• Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls
For media enquiries about VOSA, or pictures of some of the vehicles that received prohibitions, please contact: Henry Norman on 0117 954 3208/henry.norman @vosa.gov.uk or Zita Galambosi on 0117 954 2561/zita.galambosi@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 25/09/2006