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More Action Needed To Tackle Unsafe Foreign Lorries
Wed, 26 Aug 2009

Nearly half of foreign-registered lorries pose a threat to motorists in the UK as they do not comply with UK road safety standards, according to new Government figures.

In 2007-8, tests by the Vehicle and Operator services Agency (VOSA) revealed that 46.5 per cent of foreign heavy-goods vehicles (HGV’s) did not meet British safety standards, compared to 37.5 per cent of UK-registered vehicles .

A third of vehicles registered abroad were found to be overloaded, compared to 28.6 per cent of the UK fleet, while just under a quarter (23.9 per cent) of foreign trucks had breached working hours regulations or tampered with the tachograph that records them, in comparison to 15.8 per cent of domestic trucks.

The figures were published in a Transport Select Committee report on VOSA's enforcement activities, which concludes that the agency is generally effective at enforcing safety standards among haulage, bus and coach operators .

However, it added that international goods vehicles have "unacceptable levels of non-compliance with basic road safety standards" and cost lives.

The report calls for the VOSA to be given additional powers and resources to get dangerous vehicles and drivers off UK roads, and for greater access to ports to deter unsafe vehicles from entering the country.

Committee chairman Louise Ellman said: "Britain has some of the safest roads in Europe but more must be done to ensure compliance with our safety standards for lorries, buses and coaches."

Jo Tanner, of the Freight Transport Association, commented: "The safety of our roads has to be the number one priority and our continuing concern is that safety standards are being ridden rough-shod over by rogue operators from overseas."

"While UK operators by and large operate what is considered to be the gold standard in terms of compliance with safety regulations, operators coming across from the continent, particularly those from Eastern Europe, often fall well short."
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