Multi-agency checkpoints on the way

Inspector Con O’Donohue, of the National Traffic Bureau has warned transport operators that multi-agency checkpoints will be commonplace on Irish roads in 2001.

In what appears to be a concerted effort to drive illegal hauliers off the road, Inspector O’Donohue stated: “There are multi-agency checkpoints going on at the moment. We have conducted quite a number in the last few months and they will be ongoing.”

In the wake of the hauliers’ day of protest, a Government Task Force made up of the IRHA, and the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance, Environment, Justice, Revenue and Public Enterprise was established.

The IRHA pointed out to the Task Force that “illegal haulage” was a scourge on the industry and threatened the livelihood of many legal transport operators. The IRHA also highlighted the fact that “marked diesel” was being used by some operators to the cost disadvantage of others. Both the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the Minister of Finance, Charlie Mc Creevy, undertook to tackle these problems.

The multi-agency team made up of Gardai, transport officers from the Department of Public Enterprise; and officers from Revenue, Customs and Excise, and the Health and Safety Authority will be very active in the months to come.
Inspector O’Donohue added: “The feedback so far has been very positive. The legal haulier has nothing to fear and whatever the illegal haulier thinks doesn’t matter.”

He explained what the different elements within the team will be looking out for. “The transport officers are looking at tachographs and licensing of the vehicle, we look at road tax, insurance, lights, tyres and markings and so on. The Customs look at the type of load and of course the diesel. The Health and Safety Authority look at the actual safety of the load with regard to dangerous substances etc.”

Inspector O’Donohoe revealed that the Gardai were concerned about the incidence of over-loading throughout the country. He added that their interest in overloading sprang from a safety perspective rather than the commonly held misconception of being in it for the money. “From a safety point of view we are still very interested in overloading. The safety of people on the roads, including the drivers themselves, is important to us.”

The Gardai, according to Inspector O’Donohue, want transport operators to ensure that their vehicles are in a roadworthy condition and comply with the relevant regulations. “It is important they they don’t carry loads above the legal limit. It is important that they make sure that their tyres, lights and markings are in order and when they are carrying hazardous substances they have the correct markings. We would be anxious that these issues are addressed to make the roads safer for everybody.”

He added that he was concerned with the incidence of drivers exceeding their driving hours which, according to Inspector O’Donohue, has safety implications for the driver and other road users. “You will always get drivers who will go beyond their driving hours. They are risking their lives and the lives of others by doing so and it is an issue that is of concern to us.”
Over the coming weeks and months the multi- agency checkpoints will be a common sight on the nation’s roads. Inspector O’ Donohue insisted that “legal hauliers” have nothing to fear but the writing is on the wall for the other variety of haulier.