Published: 18/03/10
HGVs, or heavy goods vehicles, are used throughout the world to transport, as the name suggests, heavy goods. They usually comprise of trailer trucks and travel long distances to deliver goods. Heavy goods vehicles are usually used to transport goods from ports to industries or vice versa. They are also utilised to deliver goods between countries - and this is where the latest problem with HGVs seems to be developing.
In the United Kingdom (UK), heavy goods vehicles are not only driven by local drivers but vehicles from around the European Union come in to the UK in order to deliver and pick up goods. The UK HGV owners and operators have reported that not only do these foreign vehicles not contribute to the economy but they are also unsafe and at the highest risk of causing accidents.
Heavy goods vehicles coming in from around the European Union are noted to be fuelling up from outside the UK, where the duty on fuel is lower than that within the United Kingdom. By doing so they are not contributing to the British economy and at the same time are posing a threat to the local drivers. So not only are they not contributing but the British taxpayers are left with the burden to repair the damage to the roads that is caused by these heavy vehicles.
The decrease in profit and the road damage are not the only factors that are worrying the UK organisations. HGVs from the UK are properly checked under a strict safety code to assure safe driving for both the driver and other vehicles on the road. However, the UK association has no way of knowing what safety precautions are taken by HGVs that are coming into their country from other parts of the European Union and hence they feel that they pose a greater risk for drivers.
Therefore, new laws and regulations are being proposed that will slowly start taking effect in the UK which will allow the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency’s (VOSA) officials to carry out inspections at all UK ports and road entry points. This will help ensure that all vehicles that do not conform to the safety regulations will not be allowed to enter the UK.
Flint Insurance are truck insurance specialists. Get an instant online hgv insurance quote or call 0800 021 4503 for further details.
News Archive » |
