02-10-08 Biggest ever clampdown on unsafe lorries crossing Britain's borders launch
The biggest ever clampdown on unsafe lorries on international journeys has been launched today by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.
The Minister was at a lorry check site off the M6 near Stafford to see how the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency is using an extra £24 million Government funding to significantly step up round the clock targeted enforcement against unsafe heavy goods vehicles.
Jim Fitzpatrick said:
"We are determined to clamp down on unsafe trucks. Enforcement figures show that heavy goods vehicles from overseas are more likely to be unroadworthy, overloaded or being driven in excess of drivers’ hours rules than their UK counterparts. That’s why in the last two years alone we have more than doubled enforcement against these HGVs and thanks to an extra £24 million investment VOSA has now stepped up enforcement again. More inspectors are undertaking more checks at more sites round the clock making our roads safer for everyone.
"In addition, from next year, non-UK drivers and hauliers who flout the rules of the road face being fined and having their vehicles immobilised. Our message is clear - those who break the rules of the road will not get away with it."
Since the £24.3m three-year package was announced earlier this year, VOSA has been recruiting and training around 130 new staff dedicated to 24/7 roadside enforcement across Britain.
The package is also funding:
Two new enforcement sites in locations with a high volume of high risk HGV traffic;
A 50% increase in the number of checks carried out;
A near doubling of prohibitions, where a vehicle or driver is prevented from continuing their journey until the fault has been rectified.
VOSA is also increasingly using a smarter, intelligence-led approach to tackling un-roadworthy foreign vehicles, utilising modern technology - such as weigh-in-motion sensors - to spot overweight vehicles, and also automatic number plate recognition technology to spot those who have a poor record of compliance
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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 Easton on 0117 954 2561 or Luke Bigwood on 0117 954 3208. You can also e-mail press@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 02/10/2008