MP’s urge action over unsafe vehicles on UK roads
Foreign drivers unfamiliar with UK roads and driving vehicles that are not roadworthy are responsible for too many accidents on Britain’s roads, according to MP’s from the Commons Transport Committee.
The MP’s were quoting statistics from the body responsible for ensuring all vehicles entering the UK are roadworthy, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), which found that 47% of foreign-registered vehicles it stopped had dangerous defects. This figure is significantly higher than the number of UK vehicles with defects and now members from all political parties are calling for VOSA to be given additional powers such as being able to inspect vehicles for defects whilst they are still in port.
Compliance with safety standards for lorries, buses and coaches
Speaking about the agency and its role, Committee chairman Louise Ellman MP said that although Britain had some of the safest roads in Europe, more must be done to ensure compliance with safety standards for lorries, buses and coaches. Ms Ellman also said that VOSA was “hampered by some of the data-sharing regulations” that govern the exchange of data between European countries’ border forces, and that “it is crucial that VOSA can share information with colleagues in other European countries to bring cowboy operators to book.”
Not only was the condition of some foreign-registered lorries a cause for concern. The working practices of European haulage companies often means that their drivers work longer shifts with fewer breaks than their UK counterparts. This in itself is blamed for many of the accidents caused by foreign drivers who have fallen asleep at the wheel after driving for an extended period with no break.
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I was hit by a foreign lorry last August,my claim is still going through. I was / am incensed with the lack of due diligence from the police, I’m sure they would have reacted differently if I had been killed. There should be legislation in place to protect us from the ever increasing foreign drivers that are putting our lives in constant danger. Thankfully my son still has a Mother.
The number of Foreign lorry Drivers will increase. There is new legislation that allows foreign hauliers to operate within the UK (Cabotage). Foreign lorry drivers are often not familliar with UK roads, rules and regs. The foreign truck is also typically left hand drive. This has many dangers reagrding what the Lorry Driver can see in his mirrors. EU Drivers are also subject to Driver regulations which means they must take breaks and rests. There is also new EU ligislation in place EU Directive 2003/59 which requires professional LGV and PCV drivers to undego formal periodic training covering issues such as driver safety. We cannot reduce the number of foreign trucks as we are part of the EU.
Well, early this year I was driving down the M4 at around 4.30AM, when a Polish lorry dropped off a couple of wooden pallets. I could not steer my vehicle out of the way in time. I was doing around 70 MPH the car took off the ground and landed heavy. Over 3 grand’s worth of damage and Whiplash to me. Lorry drove off and left me at the side of the road in shock! Sooner they get this crap off the road the better it will be for us all. I had 3 weeks off work and it should have been longer but when you own your own company then you can’t. I for one would ban all left hand drive vehicles off our roads!!!
Jon