A Scunthorpe haulage firm has been fined £15,000 for flouting driver’s hours laws which could have led to serious or fatal accidents.
Bosses of Flixborough-based Intake Transport pleaded guilty to 30 offences of driver’s exceeding legal daily driving periods and not taking the necessary rest.
They were sentenced at Scunthorpe Magistrates court on Monday (17 May) where the firm was fined £500 for each offence and ordered to pay a further £30,000 towards prosecution costs.
Two of the firm’s drivers appeared at court and pleaded guilty to creating false drivers hours records.
Fines were also handed out to six further employees for driving for too long and not taking proper rests. The drivers were fined a total of £3,290 including costs and victims surcharge.
It follows an18-month investigation by government road safety agency Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). Examiners from VOSA began looking at the companies records in December 2008 and discovered that it had been ignoring the regulations which protect the safety of the drivers and other road users.
Alex Fiddes, VOSA Chief Operating Officer said:“Tired drivers run the risk of causing serious or fatal accidents. This case shows what a dim view the courts take of drivers and operators who abuse driver’s hours rules and don’t take proper rests.
VOSA is determined to find and prosecute those people who endanger the lives of other road users in this way.”
Intake Transport will now face a public inquiry before the Traffic Commissioner where it could have its licence to operate revoked.
