UK roads could be safer for cyclists if proposed new powers to crack down on dangerous trucks and coaches are adopted.
The new proposals, set out by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond last week, would give the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) more authority to tackle vehicles they suspect of being overloaded or breaking operating or driving hours rules.
The consultation also outlines plans to give VOSA officers in Scotland the power to independently stop commercial vehicles for the first time. Currently, all VOSA enforcement in Scotland is assisted by the police.
Philip Hammond said: “If our roads are to remain among the safest in the world we need to make sure that the drivers and vehicles on our roads are fit to be there. VOSA’s work is vital in keeping dangerous vehicles and drivers off the road.
“The measures I am announcing will make sure that rogue operators have nowhere to hide by ensuring that VOSA inspectors across Great Britain have all the powers they need to stop vehicles that may pose a threat to road safety.
“The new powers will also free up police time as VOSA will be able to operate more independently.”
Currently, VOSA inspectors can only independently stop drivers if they suspect there is a fault with the vehicle. These new plans would extend VOSA’s powers and allow their inspectors – without the need for police assistance – to pull drivers over to check that they are complying with the rules.
Chris Peck, Policy Co-ordinator at CTC, commented, "We welcome every effort to improve traffic law enforcement. Often stop checks on lorries show that a very high proportion of these vehicles have some sort of defect or are breaking regulations, such as those on driver hours.
"But we're not sure that this particular step will have all that much of an effect on cyclists' safety. To make things safer for cyclists, we need to plan our inner cities to reduce conflict with lorries altogether, by changing lorry delivery patterns and consolidating loads on the edges of urban areas.”
The consultation is online and will close on 13 August 2010.
He should never be able to drive again.
He wouldn't have gotten so far with a bent link. He could have hypothetically bent a link on a barrier but that can happen with any chain. This...
Vauxhall van and Salvatori delivery truck stuck in width restrictions in Church Road, Murston...
Don't come round 'ere with your "why not fix it so that everyone can use it" nonsense!...
Thank you for the local knowledge. One out of two ain't bad? And you get the best of both worlds currently... Presumably there are people who...
I agree with you. Just enjoy riding a bike. Easy to forget that one simple thing.
He also writes articles from there saying that people whom work from home are all skivers who should be back in the office
By no means claiming that Armstrong was the only doper in that period but your claim makes no sense: the average speed is taken on the time of the...
I suffered a close pass by a BMW driver 2 or 3 years ago. 10 yards later he was stopped by temporary lights. It's all on video: there's no swearing...
Electromagnetic pedals you say? Call the witch finder general!