Cut back on foreign lorries (From Echo)
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Cut back on foreign lorries
12:11pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Letters
I agree with Southend Tory councillor Blaine Robin on the need for restrictions on foreign, articulated lorries driving on our roads and motorways.
They should only be allowed to bring across, on the ferries, loaded trailers to our ports and take back empty ones.
Our articulated lorries would collect from the ports, deliver to destinations, then return the empty trailer back to port.
This would give our transport firms more work and make our roads safer.
When I drive on the M25, I see so many foreign lorries.
Foreign drivers often work too many hours and have been known to fall asleep while driving.
They have also been known to break speed limits.
Left hand drivers also have limited vision.
Overtaking and roundabouts can also cause problems.
K Cowell
Crown Close
Basildon
Nebs says...
2:07pm Wed 1 Feb 12
What we can do is make sure their lorries meet our safety standards, and their drivers don't exceed their hours.
We could also change Vehicle Excise Duty to Road Tax, and then charge them to use the roads on a short term basis. If that short term basis happened to be really expensive compared to a years road tax, tough as the option would also be available to UK lorries.