Foreign lorries 'threaten lives'
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes
Foreign lorries 'threaten lives'
Foreign lorry drivers are putting lives at risk by overworking, using vehicles with serious faults and overloading their trucks, a police chief has said.
Association of Chief Police Officers spokesman Ch Supt Geraint Anwyl said EU expansion had made the situation worse.
Penalties against the offending haulage companies were not tough enough because of the huge profits available, he said.
One Polish driver told BBC One's Real Story he drove in the UK despite not understanding any British road signs.
About 400 people a year are killed in accidents involving lorries in the UK. On a typical day there are 12,000 foreign lorries and 95,000 British ones on the country's roads, according to the Department of Transport.
'Lethal weapon'
The programme spoke to Jean Dickins, of Hungerford, who was widowed when her husband was killed by a Czech lorry driver going down the wrong side of the road.
The driver was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving but only served half of an 18-month sentence.
"It's not giving out the message that it's not acceptable for these people to come and flout the rules," she said.
Ellen Clarkson's two children Laura, aged 13 and Robert, aged nine, were killed in a pile-up on the M11 in Kent after a collision with a German driver who had been working excessive hours.
She said: "It was totally preventable, my children needn't have died. He knew what he was doing was illegal and as far as I can see he was in a lethal weapon."
Ch Supt Anwyl, of North Wales Police and a spokesman on traffic issues for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), said: "This is a very serious issue and lives are at risk here.
"As we've seen accession countries coming into the EU, the offending rate is getting greater and greater."
The Polish driver, who did not wish to be named, spoke about the kind of hours foreign drivers were doing.
He said: "Sometimes we would work overtime to get through the load - up to 26 hours.
"My record was 32 hours more or less. I didn't understand the English road signs. I still don't.
"I came to the conclusion that sooner or later I would fall asleep behind the wheel killing somebody or killing myself."
Rusty brakes
The police and the Vehicle and Operators Service Agency (VOSA), which checks that lorries are safe, said there were serious problems with drivers and lorries from both Britain and abroad, but that those from abroad were statistically more dangerous.
Real Story spent a day with the police at Dover, where most foreign lorries come in from Europe, and a day at Holyhead, one of the main departure points, with inspectors from VOSA.
It found that, out of the 206 vehicles they pulled over, more than a third - 77 vehicles - were taken off the road because they were unsafe.
Rusty brakes about to fall off, arrests for excessive driving hours, vehicles dangerously overloaded and bald tyres about to explode were among the problems discovered.
Dell Evans, a senior manager with VOSA, said that despite extra funding from the government to tackle the problem, the inspectors were still fighting a losing battle.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We are determined to tackle those lorries who choose to flout UK law.
"Every day, VOSA officers take unsafe vehicles off our roads and when the Road Safety Bill becomes law they will be granted powers to collect penalties from non-UK drivers at the roadside."
Real Story: Lethal Lorries is broadcast on BBC One at 1930BST on Wednesday 25th October 2006
Foreign lorries 'threaten lives'
Foreign lorry drivers are putting lives at risk by overworking, using vehicles with serious faults and overloading their trucks, a police chief has said.
Association of Chief Police Officers spokesman Ch Supt Geraint Anwyl said EU expansion had made the situation worse.
Penalties against the offending haulage companies were not tough enough because of the huge profits available, he said.
One Polish driver told BBC One's Real Story he drove in the UK despite not understanding any British road signs.
About 400 people a year are killed in accidents involving lorries in the UK. On a typical day there are 12,000 foreign lorries and 95,000 British ones on the country's roads, according to the Department of Transport.
'Lethal weapon'
The programme spoke to Jean Dickins, of Hungerford, who was widowed when her husband was killed by a Czech lorry driver going down the wrong side of the road.
The driver was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving but only served half of an 18-month sentence.
"It's not giving out the message that it's not acceptable for these people to come and flout the rules," she said.
Ellen Clarkson's two children Laura, aged 13 and Robert, aged nine, were killed in a pile-up on the M11 in Kent after a collision with a German driver who had been working excessive hours.
She said: "It was totally preventable, my children needn't have died. He knew what he was doing was illegal and as far as I can see he was in a lethal weapon."
Ch Supt Anwyl, of North Wales Police and a spokesman on traffic issues for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), said: "This is a very serious issue and lives are at risk here.
"As we've seen accession countries coming into the EU, the offending rate is getting greater and greater."
The Polish driver, who did not wish to be named, spoke about the kind of hours foreign drivers were doing.
He said: "Sometimes we would work overtime to get through the load - up to 26 hours.
"My record was 32 hours more or less. I didn't understand the English road signs. I still don't.
"I came to the conclusion that sooner or later I would fall asleep behind the wheel killing somebody or killing myself."
Rusty brakes
The police and the Vehicle and Operators Service Agency (VOSA), which checks that lorries are safe, said there were serious problems with drivers and lorries from both Britain and abroad, but that those from abroad were statistically more dangerous.
Real Story spent a day with the police at Dover, where most foreign lorries come in from Europe, and a day at Holyhead, one of the main departure points, with inspectors from VOSA.
It found that, out of the 206 vehicles they pulled over, more than a third - 77 vehicles - were taken off the road because they were unsafe.
Rusty brakes about to fall off, arrests for excessive driving hours, vehicles dangerously overloaded and bald tyres about to explode were among the problems discovered.
Dell Evans, a senior manager with VOSA, said that despite extra funding from the government to tackle the problem, the inspectors were still fighting a losing battle.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We are determined to tackle those lorries who choose to flout UK law.
"Every day, VOSA officers take unsafe vehicles off our roads and when the Road Safety Bill becomes law they will be granted powers to collect penalties from non-UK drivers at the roadside."
Real Story: Lethal Lorries is broadcast on BBC One at 1930BST on Wednesday 25th October 2006
They also can not see you in there right hand mirror.Once you get alongside the cab and typically your in lane two they will pull out.This will then spin you off the motorway,sometimes at speed into whatever is at the side of the motorway.Which may be trees ditches rivers etc.So yes stay well clear of them for your own safety.
The attitude is the shocking thing.
"I don't know what the signs mean, and frankly I never will."
One of my cousins drives long hauls deep into continental Europe, and he certainly doesn't have the same blasé attitude towards all the safety of the French/Germans/Austrians he shares the foreign roads with.
It shows why road policing should primarily be carried out by human beings. Which particular camera detects the truck weaving in and out of my lane because the steering hasn't been tested since it was manufactured or the driver is fast asleep?
Kudos to the customs boys stopping vehicles unfit for the road at the border, though.
"I don't know what the signs mean, and frankly I never will."
One of my cousins drives long hauls deep into continental Europe, and he certainly doesn't have the same blasé attitude towards all the safety of the French/Germans/Austrians he shares the foreign roads with.
It shows why road policing should primarily be carried out by human beings. Which particular camera detects the truck weaving in and out of my lane because the steering hasn't been tested since it was manufactured or the driver is fast asleep?
Kudos to the customs boys stopping vehicles unfit for the road at the border, though.
[quote=catso]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes
One Polish driver told BBC One's Real Story he drove in the UK despite not understanding any British road signs.
Plenty of english drivers who dont know half the signs or rules.
One Polish driver told BBC One's Real Story he drove in the UK despite not understanding any British road signs.
Plenty of english drivers who dont know half the signs or rules.
For those who didn't see it remember not just to focus on foreign lorries.
Yes the left hookers have different blind spots particularly difficult when you are in the lane to their right.
But remember the comment by Stephen Ladyman that whilst drivers hours offences were more common with foreign drivers, the incidence of vehicle defects was fairly similar for UK and foreign firms.
It's not just hours and vehicles either. We have had one East European driver turn up who was so utterly pissed from a long ferry crossing that not only could he hardly stand , medically he should have been dead he had such a high alcohol level!
Operators are not lily white. I mean any operator half awake knows when drivers are working on ghost names.
From personal experience, one driver was followed by inspectors from Sheffield to Felixstowe, tipped & reloaded, straight to Aberdeen, tipped and loaded, and was three quarters of the way back to Felixstowe when he was finally stopped. All without him having any sleep!
That operator is still running. Utter utter disgrace.
Now there is supposed to be a pressure group originally set up because of problems in the transport industry. Can't remember their name now....
Yes the left hookers have different blind spots particularly difficult when you are in the lane to their right.
But remember the comment by Stephen Ladyman that whilst drivers hours offences were more common with foreign drivers, the incidence of vehicle defects was fairly similar for UK and foreign firms.
It's not just hours and vehicles either. We have had one East European driver turn up who was so utterly pissed from a long ferry crossing that not only could he hardly stand , medically he should have been dead he had such a high alcohol level!
Operators are not lily white. I mean any operator half awake knows when drivers are working on ghost names.
From personal experience, one driver was followed by inspectors from Sheffield to Felixstowe, tipped & reloaded, straight to Aberdeen, tipped and loaded, and was three quarters of the way back to Felixstowe when he was finally stopped. All without him having any sleep!
That operator is still running. Utter utter disgrace.
Now there is supposed to be a pressure group originally set up because of problems in the transport industry. Can't remember their name now....
Also, there is not legislation to make Left Hookers to install mirrors to allow them to see the same angles as the equalivent UK lorry. But guess what? When our Truck drivers are on the continent, they have to have these mirrors installed otherwise they get fines and carted to the nearest cell 
Whilst serving in the Army I have driven RH drive vehicles on the continent and LH drive ones in the UK. I regularly tow a caravan in France and Germany. I have never had a problem in seeing down the off side of the vehicle when suitable mirrors are used. I regularly travel on the M25/M20 and give foreign vehicles a wide berth. I also drive in france and in my opinion the driving standard of German, French, Portugees, Spanish and the occasional UK registered HGV's I see is very good.
Targetted enforcement is required. I do not believe for one moment that VOSA staff and Kent Police do not know who the main culprits are likely to be.
Targetted enforcement is required. I do not believe for one moment that VOSA staff and Kent Police do not know who the main culprits are likely to be.
I think the title should have the word 'Foreign' removed. It is just being sensationalist and removes focus from the poorly driven and maintained UK lorries.
Just like the news about Ricmond BC parking rules. On the radio they are calling it a tax against against 4x4's but all cars from 1600cc up will be affected by an increase yet I haven't heard anyone (apart from on PH) point that out yet.
It is sad that on important matters like these the facts get distorted in the interests of making headlines.
What are we doing about UK lorries? Is our house in order before we go around blaming it on the Foreigners...
Just like the news about Ricmond BC parking rules. On the radio they are calling it a tax against against 4x4's but all cars from 1600cc up will be affected by an increase yet I haven't heard anyone (apart from on PH) point that out yet.
It is sad that on important matters like these the facts get distorted in the interests of making headlines.
What are we doing about UK lorries? Is our house in order before we go around blaming it on the Foreigners...
sean5302 said:
I thought that road signs were pretty much identical, across the whole of the EU.
Isn't that correct?
Isn't that correct?
There are a lot of similarities, but then you still get signs which are either totally text based or have extra plates where text describes the conditions or exemptions.
Same as in UK really.
rewc said:
Whilst serving in the Army I have driven RH drive vehicles on the continent and LH drive ones in the UK. I regularly tow a caravan in France and Germany. I have never had a problem in seeing down the off side of the vehicle when suitable mirrors are used. I regularly travel on the M25/M20 and give foreign vehicles a wide berth. I also drive in france and in my opinion the driving standard of German, French, Portugees, Spanish and the occasional UK registered HGV's I see is very good.
Targetted enforcement is required. I do not believe for one moment that VOSA staff and Kent Police do not know who the main culprits are likely to be.
Targetted enforcement is required. I do not believe for one moment that VOSA staff and Kent Police do not know who the main culprits are likely to be.
The problem is not seeing down the off-side of vehicles its if you are in a left hooker heavy in UK there can be significant blind spot when vehicles are roughly alongside the can in the lane to your right. That's the best way I can describe it.
First of all consider that this is not just a foreigner problem. Secondly consider that it is not just a problem for Kent Police and VOSA in the South East. Thirdly consider that resources are such that at full stretch roughly two vehicles from each ferry can be properly assessed.
Even Ladyman accepted that the resources needed are not available due to budget constraints.
allaway said:
[quote=catso]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes
One Polish driver told BBC One's Real Story he drove in the UK despite not understanding any British road signs.
Plenty of english drivers who dont know half the signs or rules.
One Polish driver told BBC One's Real Story he drove in the UK despite not understanding any British road signs.
Plenty of english drivers who dont know half the signs or rules.
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