
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has seen its work to improve goods vehicle load security rewarded with an international road safety award.
Representatives of the Government run agency received a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award at a celebratory luncheon at the Savoy, London, on 8 December.
The Prince Michael Awards, organised and managed by RoadSafe, recognise outstanding road safety achievement and innovation worldwide.
The judges applauded DVSA’s work, describing it as based on sound research, developed in close partnership with the haulage industry and a fine example of enforcement with education.
The DVSA has been working with the transport industry to develop a training, education and enforcement strategy which includes a training package for DVSA enforcement staff, featuring an innovative load security matrix.
As part of the initiative, the DVSA has also set up a load security guidance working group and a guide for operators, which includes video information.
It hopes its work to improve the security of loads will help reduce the time people spend stuck in traffic queues, and points to Highways England data which suggests that in 2014 there were 325 incidents of vehicles shedding their loads, with the average lane impact of 86 minutes.
Paul Satoor, DVSA interim chief executive, said: “I’m extremely pleased that our work to educate drivers and operators on the importance of load security has been recognised in this way.
“DVSA will continue to take action against those who transport unsecure loads as they are putting themselves and other road users at risk.”
HRH Prince Michael of Kent said: “At the heart of the really successful programmes, whether they be large or small, lies partnership. It is rare that a successful intervention can be delivered without bringing together a number of organisations or agencies.”
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