Accidents involving foreign lorries have dramatically increased in the past five years.
Polish HGV accidents have risen more than eight-fold, from 361 in 2001 to 3,132 in 2006. While only one Lithuanian lorry was involved in an incident in 2001, there were 745 recorded in 2006.
The Association of British Insurers, who conducted the survey said that the figures underline the need to bring in-line the weaker road safety rules of other European countries, where MoT testing is commonly less frequent and rigorous.
According to The Times newspaper only Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Slovakia have vehicle testing as strict as in the UK.
In 2005 20 per cent of foreign lorry collisions involved sideswiping, which suggest that the correct blind spot mirrors were not fitted.
Are you concerned about HGVs? Are foreign drivers a particular problem? Leave a comment below.
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3 Comments
November 16, 2007 at 10:04 pm
I’d say yes, they are a problem!
First of all, we all know that in some EU countries, passing your vehicle test, for example, an 18 wheel, 18+ tonne heavy goods vehicle license is a lot easier, and allows you to drive anywhere within the EU, now I work with some polish foreign nationals, there driving standards compared to people whom have passed there test in the UK is very poor, they have improved there driving habits, over a period of time, but not quick enough for my liking, one drove into a brick wall because he thought his brakes could stop him, in the pouring rain.
Another thing I do know is that the police are next to useless when they pull over a foreign national drivers, mainly because of the commuications problems,the other being lack of knowledge of how our road system works, we don’t get any mercy aboard, so why should they? personally I think they not stupid and play the ‘I can’t speak english’ card, the police officer loses patiences then lets them on there way.
The DSA or DVLA or whoever the driving standards body is these days, should do the following, examine the test in the country of origin, assess if there test covers our road conditions, then decide if there license is valid in this country.
Personally, I think they should have a global license, that anybody whom goes from one country to another regualry is required to take, the test is difficult, but covers everything they are likely to come across!
April 8, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Im a hgv class 2 driver and i work for a delivery company at Gatwick Airport .
Ive had lots of experience working with eastern european drivers over the last two to three years.
In my opinion with working with these guys i am not convinced that the majourity of these drivers have the skills or the know how on how to drive proffesionaly and safely on our roads .
I would say that there has to be a big question mark on some of there licenses as some of the drivers i have worked with looked like that they have never stepped behind the wheel of a hgv truck before coming to the uk .
I think that there should be tighter controls governing foreighn drivers and that they should be forced into taking a uk test after 6 months into coming into our country .
April 25, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Its not the fault of foreign truck drivers. They are bringing goods into the UK that we need. The fault lies with the labour government, uk businesses and lastly with people wanting goods as cheaply as possible. Pay the rate for the job, employ uk drivers and uk haulages. Treat hgv driving with more respect and we can limit the number of foreign drivers on uk roads. Otherwise, stop complaining.
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