EU Haulage Rules Don't Make Sense
Thursday 17 April, 2008
Brussels - British Conservative MEP Timothy Kirkhope is calling for restrictions on foreign lorries entering the UK to remain in place. Under new proposals, rules relating to cabotage (the right for a haulier to operate within the domestic borders of a country that is not their own) are to be harmonised in the EU.
Mr Kirkhope is concerned by the effect the new legislation might have on UK hauliers in particular, as foreign competitors could be about to tout for business on a pre-arranged and permanent basis in the domestic market. Foreign lorries currently pay no UK road tax, and their drivers are often paid less than their British counterparts.
The impact on the safety of Britain's roads could also be disastrous. Foreign lorries are statistically three times more likely to be involved in collisions than British lorries, and the number of crashes caused by foreign vehicles has increased by nearly 50 per cent in the past five years.*
Mr Kirkhope said:
"The rules that are being proposed are going to be very damaging if they go through. We have said this all the way through the process. I am concerned at the effect they will have on our small haulage businesses, but also on the safety of our roads.
The Government is being very weak on cabotage. The industry called for investment in an improved tracking system and database, but this was rejected as being too expensive. And in Council discussions Labour is bowing down to all and sundry in order to appease the Europeans. This cannot go on."
* According to a recent study by the Association of British Insurers.
ENDS
