Dorset clampdown on foreign HGVs (From Bournemouth Echo)

Dorset clampdown on foreign HGVs

7:00pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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CALLS for more checks on high-risk foreign lorries coincided with checks on heavy good vehicles at Ashley Heath near Ringwood yesterday.

Dorset police vehicle examiners stopped lorries to find out if they were roadworthy after statistics showed that foreign drivers cause 10 per cent of truck accidents on the UK’s roads.

Concerns raised by a House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report include the Vehicle and Operator Service Agency’s inability to properly inspect vehicles at ports before they enter Britain.

Despite using Britain’s roads, foreign lorries are not subject to any tax in this country and the report concludes: “More needs to be done to address the significant risk to road safety posed by foreign commercial vehicles.”

Committee chairman Edward Leigh said the worst accidents involving foreign lorries were caused by poor mechanical condition or driver fatigue.

Last June Belgian lorry driver Didier Gillis was jailed for six years at Bournemouth Crown Court after admitting causing tractor driver Dennis Watts’ death on the A35 Puddletown bypass.

Grandfather Mr Watts, from Bere Regis, suffered fatal injuries. Gillis fled the scene but, following his arrest, was found to be three times over the legal alcohol drink-drive limit.

Dorset police specialist operations Chief Inspector Bob Nichols told the Daily Echo: “Because we don’t have any motorways in this county, foreign lorry drivers do not pose a significant problem on our roads.

“We treat them in the same way as we do British lorry drivers. As well as seven Operation Mermaid initiatives every year we also carry out random stop checks and can stop vehicles as they leave Poole port.”

Dorset police can impose on-the-spot fines of up to £900 on HGV drivers found to be flouting traffic laws, clamp vehicles until their drivers pay up and also seize lorries.