§ Mr. Wallerasked the Minister of Transport what was the outcome of the recent special check by his Department on goods and passenger vehicles entering the United Kingdom at the major roll-on/roll-off ports.
§ Mr. FowlerChecks were carried out by my Department's enforcement staff, working closely with port authorities, at all major ports during the period 5 to 10 October 1980.
The objective was to bring home to drivers and operators of lorries and 171W coaches entering the United Kingdom, both British and foreign, that the Government are concerned to ensure the effective enforcement of regulations in this country. Checks were made on compliance with drivers' hours regulations, including the use of the tachograph, international permits or licences, vehicle loading and the mechanical condition of vehicles.
The outcome of these checks was as follows:
(a) Administrative Checks
(for weight, drivers' hours regulations etc.)
British Lorries Checked 1163 Vehicles prohibited 119 Drivers Warned 48 Foreign Lorries Checked 1170 Vehicles prohibited 240 Drivers Warned 52 The majority—90 per cent. of the lorries prohibited or drivers warned were on account of overloading offences. The remaining 10 per cent. were for other offences including irregularities with international haulage permits and non-use of tachographs.
(b) Mechanical Checks
British Lorries Checked 511 Prohibited 31 Foreign Lorries Checked 751 Prohibited 92 (c) Checks on Coaches
Some 27 British and 27 foreign coaches were also checked at the ports for mechanical condition, drivers' hours and records, and authorisations. It was found necessary to issue only one of these with an 'immediate' prohibition, because of a serious mechanical defect.