Alcohol
limit deduction imminent
Blood alcohol limits are to be cut from 80mg to 20mg for
all professional drivers. The new reduced level has been
recommended by the Road Safety Authority and will soon
become law here in Ireland.
Security
issues
The theft of a lorry and /or load can have a significant
impact on drivers, particularly for smaller operators
and owner/ drivers. John Loughran reports.
Hauliers
must play their part in reducing road deaths
Last year 336 people lost their lives on the countrys
road, which represented a decrease of 29 on the previous
year. As the drive to further reduce the carnage on
the countrys roads gathers pace, the haulage industry
can and must play its part. John Loughran reports.
Standing
the test of time
In recent years there has been a major emphasis on DOE
testing in Ireland, but many will be surprised to learn
that the test was introduced as far back as the early
eighties.
Dangerous
goods report is not welcomed
The European Parliament has adopted a report on harmonising
the rules for the transport of dangerous goods. John
Loughran reports.
Fleet
managers get Sleep Apnoea warning
Fleet managers need to be more aware of Obstructive
Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and the risks that the condition
can present to company drivers, according to leading
insurer Norwich Union. John Loughran reports
New
EU driver training directive
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has revealed that hauliers
will have to under go ongoing driver training from September
2008, under the terms of an EU Dirrective, which came
into force last year.
Fire
engine firm runs steady ship
Sídheán Teoranta has been established
in Spiddal for over six years. In that time, the fire
engine manufacturers have made considerable progress
as Managing Director Rory McCarthy explains to Cian
Ó Raghallaigh.
Volvo
Trucks win prestigious film prize
A film describing Volvo Trucks safety programmes has
won first prize in the Golden Clapperboard
competition, which is held annually to consider and
honour the years best publicity film productions.
Slow
down boys
Some 2,662 people lost their lives on the Republics
roads between 1996 and 2001. Shockingly, goods vehicles
were involved in 20 per cent of these road fatalities,
according to statistics just released by the National
Safety Council. John Loughran reports.
Cross-border
initiative will hit speedsters
Transport Minister Seamus Brennan has thrashed out an
agreement with the Northern Ireland Office, which will
result in Northern Ireland motorists having penalty
points added to their licence, if they are caught speeding
in the Republic. Southern speedsters driving in the
North will also suffer a similar punishment. John Loughran
reports.
Presentation
at Tokyo Motorshow
The new Japanese law on speed limits for trucks has
resulted in major orders for the Dutch company Groeneveld
Transport Efficiency.
National
Safety Council issues lights warning
Pat Costello, Chief Executive of the National Safety
Council has identified the problem of badly adjusted
headlamps on vehicles as a serious road safety risk.
Truckers
not at fault for Co2 emissions increase - McMahon
The European Environmental Agency, in its most recent
report 'Greenhouse Gas Emission Trends and Projections
in Europe' has laid the blame for significant increases
in carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland at the door of
the road transport industry and the private car sector.
Here John Loughran examines the report and seeks a response
from the road haulage industry.
Cross-border
pedestrian road safety initiative will save lives
The National Safety Council in the Republic and the
Department of Environment in Northern Ireland recently
launched a cross-border road safety initiative aimed
at reducing the number of pedestrians killed on our
roads. Here John Loughran reviews the initiative.
Light
at the end of the tunnel
There could be a light at the end of the tunnel for
embattled hauliers struggling to pay ever increasing
motor insurance premiums, thanks to an initiative from
road safety specialists, Hows my Driving Ltd and
leading insurer Hibernian, writes John Loughran.
Slane's
bridge too far
Notorious accident blackspot Slane bridge in Co Meath,
the scene of a number of fatal accidents over the years
bore witness to two serious crashes involving HGVs during
August.
MAN
focuses on road safety
A partnership of 23 German companies drawn from the
automobile, IT and component industries have spent the
past 12 months researching ways of developing intelligent
transport systems utilising user-friendly technology.
On
the dark side
We talk to Caroline Spillane of the National safety
Council and Supt. Tom Murphy of the Garda National Traffic
Bureau bout their concerns regarding a few rouge hauliers.
How's
my driving
The brainchild of Tom O'Sullivan, Dublin based How's
My Driving Ltd, was established in May 2001 to
monitor the driving skills of client companies' drivers.
Drivers
risk long term injury
Truck drivers are putting their backs under strain,
and running the risk of developing long-term back injuries
by adopting the wrong posture while driving, according
to the RAC.
Dead
Angle Mirror for extra safety
Visibility and being visible are of vital importance
on the road. In particular for truck drivers, it is
essential that they have a good picture of what is going
on around their truck.

All
Cleere
Kildare based company HazChem Ltd. is one the main providers
of training courses to the haulage industry in the country.
Irish Trucker found out more from company MD Seamus
Cleere.
Volvo
Truck announce partnership with I.R.S.T.
Volvo Truck Corporation has recently announced a partnership
deal
with I.R.S.T. (International Roads Safety Training)
- one of Europe's foremost safety training organisations.
A
frightening statistic
Without a seatbelt three out of four people will be
killed or seriously injured in a head-on collision,
a statistic highlighted by the the National Safety Council's
cross-border road safety campaign.
Solid
foundations
In the "dog eat dog" world of commerce, only the highest
standards ensure that the competition is kept at heel.
Pretty
heavy stuff
If you need some heavy equipment moved, you should contact
Noel Healion Transport immediately.
Joint
venture to create common industry standard for transport
information systems launched
Volvo Truck Corporation in association with a number
of other HGV manufacturers has developed a new open
standard for transport information systems.
Driver
training
Paul White is a heavy goods vehicle-training instructor
with FAS, the national training and employment authority.
Garda
Chief issues safety warning
Inspector Michael Brosnan of the Garda National Traffic
Bureau has issued a road safety warning to all hauliers
to slow down and not to overload their vehicles.
Arrive
alive with energy drinks
The Sleep Research Laboratory investigated the effects
of caffeine-based energy drinks on sleepy drivers as
a scientifically quantifiable alternative to drinking
coffee.
300
deaths so far
The carnage continues unabated. At the time of writing
more than 300 people had lost their lives this year
on Irelands roads.
Digitek
CCTV
Digitek CCTV launch groundbreaking vehicle reversing
safety systems for the European transport industry.
Dunshaughlin
Training Services
Dunshaughlin Training Services, trading as Advanced
National Training Services, has opened its doors to
the Irish industrial and transport world.
Commercial
Vehicle Testing
Filling out forms for vehicle testing has up to now
been a necessary but time-consuming chore for test stations
nationwide.
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