Firm wins new 0-licence despite speeding tickets
Page 32
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A STOURBRIDGE company applying for a new 0licence was called to a public inquiry because of five speeding offences by two directors.
West Midlands Deputy Traffic Commissioner Alan Bourlet heard that Apro Environmental Services was seeking a three-vehicle licence. He was concerned that director Anthony Oakes had incurred three fixed penalty notices for speeding while the firm was operating under interim authority; his co-director Jason Pa had been issued with two.
The DTC granted the application, but warned that as directors they, together with the company's transport manager. were responsible for monitoring the performance of the company's vehicles and for complying with the undertaking to ensure that vehicles did not break the speed limits.
Oakes said he had stuck to speed limits since the last notice. He drove up to 70,000 miles a year. One of the offences had occurred when he was driving a truck downhill —he was caught by a mobile carnerajust after a 60rnph limit came down to SOmph. He did not feel he had enough time to slow down.
The company was only just starting out, he added; he and Pell were the only drivers at the moment. He personally checked the tachograph charts at the end of each day.
Pell told the DTC that both his offences had occurred while driving a car in his previous job as a pharmaceutical representative. He was very aware that he was now driving a much larger vehicle.
Granting the licence after being assured by both men that they would stick to speed limits in the future, the DTC noted that there had been no other convictions or prohibitions during the period of the interim licence.
He reminded the pair that professional drivers should take a pride in their driving and in abiding by the law.