Britain to stiffen laws on foreign drivers

IRISH motorists travelling through Britain could soon have their vehicles immobilised under strict new road safety measures being proposed by the British government.

Stronger enforcement measures are being considered to tackle the problem of foreign-registered vehicles — especially heavy goods vehicles — being able to escape punishment for a variety of traffic offences in Britain.

Under the proposals, British police and transport inspectors will have the power to collect on-the-spot penalties and issue fixed penalty notices to drivers who does not have a valid British address.

On-the-spot fines will be taken as “deposits”, equivalent to the value of the likely fine, so that motorists can still contest the charge in the courts.

Fixed penalties for such offences currently range from £30 (€44) to £200 (€294).

The new legislation will also make it easier for hauliers who break driving hours, weight and vehicle safety regulations to bepenalised.

Research by the British Department of Transport has shown that a high proportion of Irish-registered lorries travelling in Britain fail to meet roadside mechanical or driver tests.

More than a quarter of all the Irish HGVs tested in 2003-2004 were found to be in breach of vehicle safety standards.

Most problems related to the failure to keep proper tachograph records, failure to take mandatory rests or breaks, excessive driving hours and brakes and headlight defects.

Two years ago, a senior safety inspector with the British Vehicle and Operator Services Agency branded Irish vehicles “among the worst we find”.

“They are the poorest vehicles and would be top of the league for mechanical faults,” he said.

The failure rate of 26.3% for Irish lorries was one of the highest for vehicles registered in any of the EU member states, while the failure rate for Irish HGV trailers was even worse at 45%.

Under the new measures, the British authorities will be given the power to prohibit a driver and vehicle that break the rules from continuing their journey by ordering them to remain stationary for a fixed period of time.

They will also have the power to immobilise any vehicle if they believe there is a risk that the driver will continue with the journey before such a prohibition has expired of if the driver refuses to pay a fine.