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Road safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick has reinforced the message that unsafe foreign vehicles will not be tolerated, as VOSA ramps up its enforcement efforts under the umbrella of the High Risk Traffic Initiative (HRTI). The new scheme, which is putting into action some of the pledges announced earlier this year when VOSA received an extra £24m of funding (MT 10 April), kicked off last week with a six-day national roadside blitz called Operation Boston.

Speaking at the launch, Fitzpatrick  stressed that VOSA enforcement was tightening, particularly on foreign firms. He adds: "From next year, non-UK drivers and hauliers who flout the rules of the road face being fined and having their vehicles immobilised. Our message is clear: those who break the rules of the road will not get away with it."

MT joined Vosa inspectors on day two of Operation Boston at Doxey off the M6 near Stafford. Between 6am and 1.10pm, 40 foreign vehicles were stopped, with 26 found to be non-compliant. During the six-day blitz, 6,500 checks were made with 2,300 prohibition notices served. More than a third (37%) did not comply with the roadworthiness rate, while 34% did not conform to traffic enforcement rules.

As MT went to press, a breakdown of UK and non-UK HGVs was not available, however, Martin Harris, area manager for the Doxey site, says he suspects the majority of the offences were committed by foreign hauliers. Speaking to MT during the operation, Fitzpatrick says: "VOSA's work  is life saving and the new HRTI is primarily focused on vehicles crossing the border. This does not exempt UK hauliers, but more foreign vehicles break the rules than British ones."

A core aspect of the new initiative is the recruitment of 130 new staff who will contribute to the enforcement agency's new 24-hour, seven days a week presence.