NICK MATTHEWS Panther Platform Rentals Luton Nick Matthews' recent contact
Page 37

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
with at least one Vosa off icial suggests there may be limited enthusiasm for the agency dishing out fines by the roadside.
The feedback he had suggests some Vosa staff don't necessarily see this as the best way to improve driving and vehicle standards, "Apparentiv they would rather have more technicians and be able to cope with answering the industry's needs in terms of vehicle examinations than going down this route," says Matthews.
He shares their lack of enthusiasm and questions whether Vosa will show the same flexibility as traffic police. But then he is a former traffic officer himself.
"I think Vosa is more inclined to see things in black and whrte," says Matthews, "And it will have to produce results because there's no way the government is going to provide extra funding for this and then leave Vosa alone."
MALCOLM MILLARD MGM Haulage Flexford, Southampton One big advantage of the proposed system, believes Malcolm Millard, is not having to go to court.
"Offences always seem to happen when
you are furthest away from the depot," says the industry veteran. 'Then you have to attend court in that area. If it happens in Sheffield and you're based in Southampton, as we are; you've got the added cost and hassle of travelling all that way."
Millard is also pleased that the new rules promise to tackle the problem of foreign drivers. But he still belbves a more simple system might be one he has promoted before—an 'entry fee' to the UK for all foreign trucks.
1 maintain that foreign drivers should pay an entry fee of £50-2100 and all trucks should be weighed when they get off the ferry to make sure they're not overloaded.
"But in principle, roadside penalties are a good idea if it means foreign drivers are treated the same as British ones."