News

Foreign truck drivers who break UK traffic laws could be forced to pay on-the-spot roadside fines of up to £200 under the latest government proposals. A consultation paper on graduated fixed penalty and deposit schemes ended last week (August 30) and the next step could be legislation to enable the measures to become law.

Under the proposals, police and Vosa officers would be able to issue on-the-spot penalties for several offences, including overloading, drivers'  hours and tachograph breaches and roadworthiness offences. The fines will apply both to UK and non-UK drivers, although a satisfactory UK address, verifiable by something such as a driving licence, will mean the fine will not have to be paid there and then.

Joan Williams, head of road freight policy at the Freight Transport Association, says the FTA supports the fines in principle, but believes the maximum fine should be higher for some offences, including the worse drivers' hours breaches. She welcomes the inclusion of foreign drivers "because foreign-registered vehicles largely escape sanctions at the moment".

One of the reasons that the Department for Transport (DfT) prepared the proposals for on-the-spot fines was the number of foreign drivers failing to turn up to court to pay fines. Foreign drivers without a satisfactory UK address will have to pay fines with a credit or debit card, although cash deposits  will be taken if no other method of payment is available. The trucks will not be allowed to continue on their journey until Vosa's call centre confirms the payment has been made.

Jack Semple, the Road Haulage Association's director of policy, says the ability to fine overseas vehicles by the roadside "will transform utterly the level of sanctions on foreign drivers" and was a very welcome step. Semple says that the sooner the new scheme comes into effect the better, but adds that the consequences for UK hauliers should not be underestimated. He argues that it is easier to impose a fixed fine than to prosecute, so some drivers that are currently let off with a warning will be forced to pay up if they commit a similar offence in the future.