MPs have called for the agency in charge of safety-testing lorries and buses to be given extra powers to get unsafe foreign vehicles off the road.

The Commons Transport Committee said non-compliance among overseas vehicles was unacceptably high. The committee also stated that the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) needed more resources. Its report, which looked into the enforcement activities of VOSA, said the agency needed more access to ports to prevent dangerous vehicles from entering Britain.

Committee chairman Louise Ellman MP said: "Britain has some of the safest roads in Europe but more must be done to ensure compliance with our safety standards for lorries, buses and coaches."

She said VOSA was "recognised as a model of best practice" but it "lacked sufficient access to our ports to inspect vehicles and drivers effectively".


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