21-06-04 VOSA issue latest Operation Mermaid results
The latest Operation Mermaid, a national check of goods vehicles, took place between 14 and 18 June 2004. The Metropolitan Police force co-ordinated the checks that were held at 44 locations around the country.
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) staff examined the vehicles for both mechanical and traffic offences. Vehicle examiners checked 1,279 vehicles including 187 foreign vehicles. A total of 292 UK registered vehicles received prohibitions for mechanical defects. Of these prohibitions 140 were immediate and 152 were delayed. 21 immediate prohibitions and 10 delayed were issued to foreign registered vehicles.
Traffic examiners checked 870 vehicles including 175 foreign vehicles. 116 UK registered vehicles were issued with immediate prohibitions. 55 of these were for drivers' hours and 47 were for overloading. There were also 8 prohibitions relating to contravention of the regulations concerning the carriage of hazardous substances and 6 prohibitions for defective speedlimiters. 30 prohibitions were issued to foreign registered vehicles.
Jeff Belt, VOSA's Operations Director said:
“Our aim is to improve road safety and environmental protection and holding these checks, in partnership with the Police, forms a vital part of our strategy for achieving this aim. These results show the importance of roadside checks. They are an effective way of detecting those operators who fail to meet the required standards and compromise road safety”.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Operation Mermaid is the code name for a series of multi agency nationwide checks organised by the Police.
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is the Government Agency with statutory responsibilities for ensuring the road worthiness of the vehicle fleet. It contributes to the maintenance and improvement of road safety and environmental protection by the enforcement of relevant legislation.
VOSA 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 accident, defects and recalls
Should you require further information about VOSA, its work or help with stories or programming related to road safety and environmental protection please contact:
Jay Fordham or Miranda Roberts, VOSA, 0117 954 3334/3233
e-mail jeanette.fordham@vosa.gov.uk / miranda.roberts@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 25/09/2006