News

Hauliers have been plunged into confusion over the use of police-sanctioned crime alert text messages after the Department for Transport (DfT) branded them unsafe. The response by the government department in a letter to the founder of Truckersworld , Barrie Tozer, appears to contradict the policy of the Midlands Truck Watch scheme, which relies on text messages to inform lorry drivers  about stolen vehicles and is supported by the Midlands police.

Tozer has been trying to secure permanent backing for his own text alert initiative, but the DfT says it cannot support it. Astonishingly, it says it took advice from the police to reach this decision.

DfT policy advisor Steve Oliver says: "We have contacted ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) about the viability of this. Their view is that any mobile phone-based system, which might lead to drivers attempting to use a mobile device on the move or to stop on a hard shoulder unnecessarily, would cause a hazard. Having considered this carefully, and in conjunction with our road safety people, we would take the same view. Therefore, we could not justify supporting this on road safety grounds."

Tozer says the response "insults" the intelligence of drivers.

West Midlands Business Council executive director and Midlands Truck Watch spokesman James Watkins says: "While I wasn't fully aware of  that news that Midlands Truck Watch does use text messaging, I think we have to treat people as adults, drivers as adults, haulage companies as adults. They know the right time to look at mobile phones. Let's treat them as adults and let's give them responsibility."

However, Yorkshire and Humber's Truck Watch scheme says it dropped texting 14 months ago due to safety concerns. Eastern region Truck Watch says it uses recorded voicemail messages.

Truckpol's acting detective chief inspector Mark Hooper says: "We did look at sending out messages to drivers. The advice we received was they couldn't condone the system. We were being warned to be cautious." The Road Haulage Association's infrastructure manager, Chrys Rampley, says: "There are lots of schemes out there supported by the police that do what [Tozer] is trying to do. It's a difficult one."