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Foreign truckers' plea to police | Foreign truckers' plea to police |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Some foreign lorry drivers work such long hours they are reporting themselves to police to be sure they get a break from their cabs. | Some foreign lorry drivers work such long hours they are reporting themselves to police to be sure they get a break from their cabs. |
Tighter profits mean some firms are pushing drivers to work far over their hours, BBC Eye On Wales has found. | Tighter profits mean some firms are pushing drivers to work far over their hours, BBC Eye On Wales has found. |
Police have come across drivers who have been at the wheel for 32 hours. | Police have come across drivers who have been at the wheel for 32 hours. |
While they can take action against the foreign drivers flouting the rules it is much more difficult to prosecute overseas companies. | While they can take action against the foreign drivers flouting the rules it is much more difficult to prosecute overseas companies. |
While lorries engaged in international journeys represent less than 1% of traffic on British roads, they are responsible for 8% of all road deaths. | While lorries engaged in international journeys represent less than 1% of traffic on British roads, they are responsible for 8% of all road deaths. |
Ch Supt Geraint Anwyl from North Wales Police leads the national roads policing forum. | Ch Supt Geraint Anwyl from North Wales Police leads the national roads policing forum. |
He said he is concerned about their lack of control over foreign haulage companies who pressurise drivers into doing excessive hours. | He said he is concerned about their lack of control over foreign haulage companies who pressurise drivers into doing excessive hours. |
Mr Anwyl said:"The drivers are committing offences, and clearly there's no excuse for that, but they're also victims in this - they are being exploited. | Mr Anwyl said:"The drivers are committing offences, and clearly there's no excuse for that, but they're also victims in this - they are being exploited. |
"It's a modern type of slave labour, in a sense. | "It's a modern type of slave labour, in a sense. |
He added: "We're able to do something with the UK-based operators, because there are traffic commissioners who issue the operators' licences and are able to place strict conditions and take punitive measures against companies who are offending. | He added: "We're able to do something with the UK-based operators, because there are traffic commissioners who issue the operators' licences and are able to place strict conditions and take punitive measures against companies who are offending. |
"But the same system doesn't necessarily apply across Europe." | "But the same system doesn't necessarily apply across Europe." |
'Lost without her' | 'Lost without her' |
Dorothy Thomas, 63, from Amlwch on Anglesey, died in March when a German trucker crossed the road and hit her car head-on after 19 hours at the wheel. | Dorothy Thomas, 63, from Amlwch on Anglesey, died in March when a German trucker crossed the road and hit her car head-on after 19 hours at the wheel. |
Rolf Artmann, 54, was jailed for four years after admitting causing Mrs Thomas' death. | Rolf Artmann, 54, was jailed for four years after admitting causing Mrs Thomas' death. |
Mold Crown Court heard he had driven from Germany almost non-stop and the judge said he had shown deep remorse. | Mold Crown Court heard he had driven from Germany almost non-stop and the judge said he had shown deep remorse. |
The judge said Rolf Artmann had shown deep and obvious remorse | |
Gwyn Thomas, who was married for 42 years, is still struggling to come to terms with his loss, which he sees as wholly avoidable. | Gwyn Thomas, who was married for 42 years, is still struggling to come to terms with his loss, which he sees as wholly avoidable. |
"If he had taken the rest, as the other drivers of two other vehicles which left Dortmund roughly about the same time, probably Dorothy would still have been alive today. | "If he had taken the rest, as the other drivers of two other vehicles which left Dortmund roughly about the same time, probably Dorothy would still have been alive today. |
"It's very hard...I'm lost without her." | "It's very hard...I'm lost without her." |
Meanwhile, British hauliers are under pressure to compete with their continental counterparts, in the face of disparity over fuel prices and road tax. | Meanwhile, British hauliers are under pressure to compete with their continental counterparts, in the face of disparity over fuel prices and road tax. |
They are also frustrated at what they see as a lack of accountability by foreign operators. | They are also frustrated at what they see as a lack of accountability by foreign operators. |
Gill Sheddick, a former haulage operator and board member of the Freight Transport Association (FTA), said: "I think they try to enforce (the law) on foreign hauliers, and what happens is they take them to court, and they're issued with a fine, and the fine is never paid and the haulier is never chased. | Gill Sheddick, a former haulage operator and board member of the Freight Transport Association (FTA), said: "I think they try to enforce (the law) on foreign hauliers, and what happens is they take them to court, and they're issued with a fine, and the fine is never paid and the haulier is never chased. |
"If you're a UK-based haulier, there is this corporate manslaughter issue being brought forward. | "If you're a UK-based haulier, there is this corporate manslaughter issue being brought forward. |
"But if you're a foreign operator, that doesn't apply to you, so that could could be an issue we should be pushing in Brussels, that it has to become a European-wide regulation." | "But if you're a foreign operator, that doesn't apply to you, so that could could be an issue we should be pushing in Brussels, that it has to become a European-wide regulation." |
Eye on Wales is broadcast at 1830 BST on Monday on BBC Radio Wales. | Eye on Wales is broadcast at 1830 BST on Monday on BBC Radio Wales. |
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