§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on(a) the increase in the payload of heavy lorries and (b) changes in the average haul length since the legalisation of 38-tonne trucks.
§ Mr. AtkinsIn 1983, the maximum weight limit for five-axle articulated vehicles was increased from 32.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight to 38 tonnes gross vehicle weight.
A comparison with years before 1983 is not possible since statistics of road haulage prior to 1983 are based on unladen weight and not gross vehicle weight categories. However, there were very few 38-tonne trucks operating in 1983, so that comparisons between 1983 and 1988, the most recent year for which data are available, give a reasonable indication of the effect of the change.
The design payload of a vehicle clearly depends on its axle configuration and body type, and it is estimated that, on average, five-axle 38-tonne vehicles can carry up to 30 tonnes, whereas 33-tonne vehicles can carry up to 24 tonnes. The average load carried by vehicles, on loaded journeys, has risen from 14.8 tonnes in 1983 to 18 tonnes in 1988 for large articulated vehicles—ie, over 33 tonnes GVW, and from 8.4 tonnes to 10.9 tonnes for smaller articulated vehicles over the same period.
The corresponding figures for average length of haul are from 154 km in 1983 to 137 km for larger articulated vehicles and 122 km in 1983 to 109 km in 1988 for the smaller vehicles.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to legislate for the shortening of the average haul length of heavy lorries.
§ Mr AtkinsNo. Operators should be free to decide the length of haul, subject to their customers' requirements.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average fine for overloading vehicles.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe average fine for offences detected by the Department's traffic examiners is about £155.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average fine for tachograph violations.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe average fine for offences detected by the Department's traffic examiners is about £80.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the police role in spot checking vehicles for weight and tachometer offences.
§ Mr. AtkinsPolice assistance is required at Department of Transport roadside checks to stop heavy goods vehicles for checks by enforcement staff. Some police forces also carry out their own spot checks.
§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to increase the number of heavy goods vehicles spot checked for tachograph and weight violations; how many spot check offenders are prosecuted; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of offenders prosecuted and fined.
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§ Mr. AtkinsThe annual national enforcement plan sets targets for enforcement by Department of Transport traffic examiners. In 1988–89, 52 per cent. more HGVs were weighed and 40 per cent. more tachograph charts checked than in the previous year. In 1988–89 nearly 8,200 prosecutions were brought, including weight and tachograph offences. The police and local authority trading standards officers also check weigh vehicles and the police check tachographs. Where violations are detected, offenders will be liable to prosecution.