Remain vigilant over car transporter trailer length warns RHA

The Road Haulage Association has urged car transporter operators to remain vigilant about being fined or prosecuted for running overlength vehicles despite Vosa's recent commitment to review its policy on the issue.

The warning follows an emergency meeting of the RHA's car transporter group last week, where members decided to wait for the outcome of the Vosa review before deciding whether to take any action.

The meeting - and Vosa review - were prompted by a court case last month that saw a car transporter driver successfully overturn a prosecution for breaking length regulations. It brought to a head a long-running dispute between Vosa and car transporter operators, centring on whether a safety device at the front of the trailer should be included in the vehicle measurement.

Nick Deal, secretary of the RHA's car transporter group, said: "We have asked members to let us know if tickets [issued by Vosa officers] are forthcoming - the group have decided they want to see what happens next."

A Vosa spokeswoman said: "There is no change to our previous position. Vosa is currently reviewing its policy."