31-10-06 VOSA Vigilant Over Drivers Hours
VOSA has announced its intention to continue cracking down on drivers who fail to produce the correct hours documentation on UK roads, with one operator being forced to fly over from Spain to collect his vehicle last week.
On Monday 23rd October at a roadside check in Dagenham, Essex a VOSA traffic examiner inspected a Spanish articulated vehicle with a Portuguese driver. When asked to present his documents, the driver produced 11 days of digital tachograph printouts and no drivers’ card. EU legislation states that a valid card must be issued to all drivers from member states before they can legally operate a vehicle equipped with a tachograph.
Without a valid card to support them, the printouts could have been produced by anyone and on closer inspection it transpired that some had been signed by another driver. A prohibition was subsequently issued for failing to produce a drivers’ card and the driver was informed that he would not be allowed to remove the vehicle from the check site.
At 1am the traffic examiner received a call asking him to return and release the vehicle as the drivers’ manager had flown straight to Gatwick and caught a taxi to Dagenham in order to rescue his stranded vehicle and colleague.
The UK has taken a firm line in ensuring that these requirements are adhered to since the DVLA began issuing driver smart cards back in June 2005, and will continue to do so on vehicles from both domestic and international transport operators.
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NOTES TO EDITOR:
Driver cards can be obtained by calling 0870 850 1074, or from DVLA local offices and vehicle testing stations.
VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. It 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 accidents, defects and recalls
For media inquiries about VOSA, please contact: Henry Norman on 0117 954 3208 / henry.norman@vosa.gov.uk, or Zita Galambosi on 0117 954 2561 / zita.galambosi@vosa.gov.uk.
Could you please send the published version of any articles about VOSA to press@vosa.gov.uk, VOSA, Berkeley House, Croydon Street, Bristol, BS5 0DA, or fax them to 0117 9543303. Many thanks.
Page last updated: 02/11/2006