16-07-07 VOSA Targets Vehicles on International Journeys
It has been a year since the Ministerial launch of the South East International Pilot, which involved checking vehicles on international journeys. The results of the pilot showed the continuing need to target unroadworthy vehicles on international journeys on their way through the UK.
An 18 hour check on 3-4 July 2007 was held by VOSA at a checksite off the M20 in Kent. VOSA examiners targeted vehicles and drivers on international journeys to ensure compliance with the vehicle safety and driver’s hours requirements.
Kevin Jury, Senior Vehicle Examiner said: “The results of these checks speak for themselves and highlight the importance of VOSA’s enforcement work, since we encountered a number of vehicles with multiple offences. The checks included a lorry with three severely defective tyres, a leaking fuel tank, a missing shock absorber and on top of that the driver failed to produce the required number of tachograph charts too. The few charts the driver produced showed insufficient rest period. Another driver’s record showed that he was driving for 19 consecutive days without any sufficient rest. These vehicles must be removed from the roads if we are to improve road safety.”
Updated figures from VOSA’s vehicle checks from 3-4 July 2007 are as follows:
Roadworthiness
Vehicle Examiners checked a total of 56 vehicles and issued 22 immediate and 11 delayed prohibitions.
Drivers’ hours
Traffic Examiners checked a total of 49 vehicles and issued a total of 16 prohibitions. Two offences for drivers’ hours resulted in prohibitions of 45 hours for no weekly rest within the preceding 2 weeks.
NOTES TO EDITOR:
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, please contact: Zita Galambosi on 0117 954 2561 or Henry Norman on 0117 954 3438 you can also e-mail press@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 16/07/2007