Truckers Demo CriticisedTRANSform Scotland, the campaign for sustainable transport, has criticised today's Edinburgh demo by truckers as "irresponsible" and a "diversion" from the day-in and day-out threat to public safety and the environment posed by road haulage. TRANSform Scotland is calling for the Scottish Executive to give priority to new funding for rail capital investment schemes to help get more freight off the roads and on to trains.Campaign Manager Colin Howden said: "Road hauliers would be more deserving of sympathy if they put their own house in order first - by tackling the danger to other road users that they cause. Road hauliers operate in an industry which competition has always been cut-throat, and too many of them break the law in order to make a profit." "All other road users are intimidated by the size and speed of heavy lorries, and most people would much rather see more freight on rail than the Government caving in to the hauliers' special pleading. The latest Government statistics show that no less than 45% of articulated lorries break the 30mph speed limit on urban roads - while 91% of articulated lorries exceed the 50mph speed limit on dual-carriageways. "The police will confirm that spot checks on lorries regularly find that up to a third of truckers are operating illegally in terms of drivers hours, overloading or inadequate maintenance." "Tighter enforcement of the law is needed, and the Scottish Executive should use their forthcoming 10 Year Transport Plan to provide a major funding boost for capital investment schemes to get freight off the roads and on to trains. There is a unique opportunity for more freight on rail in Scotland, since no less than 28% of current road haulage movements are over distances of more than 250 miles which ideally suit the economics of rail freight." ENDS Notes to Editors: (1) TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign, bringing together 67 organisations - including transport operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, chambers of commerce and local transport groups - interested in transport, the environment and a sustainable Scotland. We can be contacted at 72 Newhaven Road, Edinburgh, EH6 5QG. Tel.: 0131-467-7714; Fax: 0131-554-8656; E-mail: campaigns@transformscotland.org.uk; web: http://www.transformscotland.org.uk END OF NEWS RELEASE
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