26-07-07 International Vehicle and Driver Safety Checks
Following the success of the South East International Pilot, the UK’s Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has announced that this work will be incorporated into their normal targeted enforcement work. This means that VOSA will continue to target vehicles on international journeys on UK roads to carry out vehicle and driver safety checks. Checks will continue to be focussed around ports, with a 24/7 shift system that covers Eurotunnel, Dover and Ramsgate, as well as on the inland road network.
In order to build on the success of the previous campaign held last summer, VOSA will once again be distributing multi-lingual leaflets and posters aimed at HGV drivers to be displayed at ports in the UK and on the continent (including Dover and Calais), on ferries and at Eurotunnel. The leaflet comes in five languages (English, German, French, Spanish and Polish) explaining the reason for the checks and the consequences of failing to comply (a PDF of the leaflet is attached). Vehicle Check Leaflet
Senior vehicle examiner Kevin Jury said: “We are delighted with the success that the project has enjoyed so far and are confident that this new phase will help to further improve road safety. I would also like to say a big thank you to all the ports and ferry companies who have helped us by displaying our leaflets and posters. They have had a great part to play in what we have achieved so far and we are grateful that they will continue to do so.”
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NOTES TO EDITOR:
VOSA conducted a series of checks on vehicles and drivers on international journeys in Ashford, Kent on 3-4 July 2007. The results were as follows:
Roadworthiness
Vehicle Examiners checked a total of 56 vehicles and issued 22 immediate and 11 delayed prohibitions.
Drivers’ hours
Traffic Examiners checked a total of 49 vehicles and issued a total of 16 prohibitions. Two offences for drivers’ hours resulted in prohibitions of 45 hours for no weekly rest within the preceding two weeks.
VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) 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 enquiries about VOSA, please contact: Henry Norman on 0117 954 3208
or Zita Galambosi on 0117 954 2561, or you can also e-mail press@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 27/07/2007