26-05-04 VOSA Releases Results of Latest Coordinated Ports Check
A targeted check of goods vehicles travelling to and from ports serving the Irish Sea resulted in 181 UK registered vehicles and 166 foreign registered vehicles receiving immediate prohibitions for roadworthiness defects. A further 21 vehicles were issued with prohibitions for overloading, 85 for breaches of drivers' hours regulations and 16 for defective speed limiters.
The check took place between 20 and 24 May 2004. It was a joint operation involving not only staff from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) but also from the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (Northern Ireland)), Department of Transport in the Republic of Ireland, HM Customs and Excise and Police forces from Dumfries and Galloway, Cumbria, Lancashire, Port of Liverpool and North Wales.
Commenting on the check Bob Tatchell, Operations Director for VOSA said:
"These results show how effective we are at targeting the non compliant operator by using information gained through VOSA's intelligence network. Checks such as these are vital to improving road safety and we will continue to work with colleagues from other agencies to make sure that the roads are safe for all road users."
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NOTES TO EDITORS
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) was created on 1 April 2003 by merging the Former Vehicle Inspectorate and the Traffic Area Network Division of the Department for Transport. 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 jfordham@vosa.gov.uk / mroberts@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 25/09/2006