VOSA plans to use its intelligence
Page 8

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE VEHICLE AND Operator Services Agency plans to launch an intelligence-led' scheme to target cowboy operators more effectively.
From 2006 VOSA's Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) will categorise all operators according to their risk to road safety. OCRS will comprise historic data on annual testing and traffic and roadworthiness enforcement, as well as predictive elements including the type of licence, and fleet size. This data will be available at the roadside along with other
intelligence data using new handheld PDA-style devices and automatic number-plate recognition cameras.
The scheme could later be used to publicly license operators who apply to be rated on a bronze, silver and gold scale, according to their perceived level of risk to the public. A VOSA spokeswoman says: "Before taking such a scheme forward VOSA would need to develop appropriate standards and thresholds in a transparent and fair way and reach agreement with the industry and within gov
ernment about how such a scheme might be enabled and controlled."
• One in five vehicles stopped in the latest Operation Mermaid on 14 and 18 June was found to be in a dangerous condition or had drivers who were breaking the law.
A total of 2,149 vehicles, including 362 foreign trucks, were stopped at 44 sites across the UK: 292 UK-registered and 21 foreignregistered trucks received prohibitions for mechanical defects.
An alarming 116 UK drivers and 30 foreign drivers were issued with immediate prohibitions for hours offences and overloading.