Trade unions have joined with vehicle operators in calling for increased information and enforcement in respect of foreign commercial vehicles working in the UK. They are concerned at the increasing evidence showing that vehicles visiting the UK are in a less roadworthy condition than in the past; that the numbers of operating offences by foreign commercial vehicles is increasing, notably drivers’ hours breaches and overloading; and that vehicles are now involved in a disproportionately high number of accidents.

But there is a separate issue concerning the number of immigrants arriving in the UK, particularly from Eastern Europe, seeking work that may involve driving. In a joint submission to the Road Haulage Task Group, the Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association have called for foreign lorries working in the UK to be required to register details of ownership and vehicle records in order to assist the work of UK enforcement authorities. At present VOSA and the police have instant access to information regarding UK-based vehicles, but little or no information regarding foreign vehicles. The problem facing employers in recruiting immigrant workers as drivers is how to check that those people have both a legal driving licence and the experience and skills to drive on the UK’s roads.

Although the Department for Transport does not publish statistics detailing the number of road traffic accidents involving vehicles driven by foreign drivers – either visitors or residents – newspaper headlines would indicate a significant rise as the number of immigrant workers arriving in the UK increases. Meanwhile, a recent check by VOSA inspectors on the A20 in Kent on foreign trucks arriving in the UK revealed that two-thirds of vehicles had mechanical faults and one-third of drivers were in breach of regulations. Over the coming months VOSA inspectors plan to significantly increase their checks on foreign lorries.

An FTA spokesman says: “Anecdotal evidence would suggest that more and more foreign vehicles are involved in serious road accidents. It is for that reason that we want to see a register of vehicles compiled before they arrive in the UK. The database can then be cross-checked each time a vehicle arrives at an entry port. Instead we are seeing selective checking. For UK-registered vehicles and drivers there is a vehicle and driver database that can be checked at the flick of a computer switch.

“With regard to foreign workers obtaining driving jobs in the UK, we can only appeal to employers to examine the driving credentials of staff. There is no doubt that many of these people have an excellent work ethic, but from a safety viewpoint it is important they have the right driving skills and companies may choose to put them through a training programme.” At a joint liaison meeting, representatives of the United Road Transport Union, the Transport & General Workers’ Union, the FTA and the RHA were agreed in their serious concerns for UK road safety.

FTA chief executive Richard Turner says: “The numbers of foreign lorries working in the UK is constantly rising – now something like one in seven of the heaviest vehicles on our roads is from overseas. It is absolutely vital that the operating conditions of those vehicles, and the behaviour of their drivers, matches the same high standards which we expect of our home fleet.” Ron Webb of the T&GWU says: “Whether drivers are from the UK or visiting from Europe we must ensure that all UK road users are protected by the operation of safe vehicles driven by safe drivers. We fully expect UK enforcement authorities, notably VOSA and the police, to apply the same high standards to foreign vehicles as they quite correctly apply to UK vehicles and drivers.”

“It is hardly surprising that lorry drivers and operators are united in their views on the way foreign vehicles work in the UK”

Bob Monks of the URTU says: “The UK transport industry has a proud record of safe operation achieved by the joint efforts of drivers, operators and the enforcement authorities. Foreign vehicles and their drivers entering the UK are faced with different and less familiar traffic and driving conditions. But we need UK enforcement authorities to ensure that our foreign visitors are obliged to meet the same safety levels as we expect in the UK.”

Roger King, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, says: “It is hardly surprising that lorry drivers and operators are united in their views on the way foreign vehicles work in the UK. We have to be concerned that the evidence increasingly suggests that both the condition of foreign vehicles and the behaviour of foreign drivers could be improved to the benefit of all UK road users.”

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