Sobering thoughts when travelling on EU roads.

[CHJ]

Just came across this whilst browsing the UK news sites. Full article Here

BRITAIN'S ROADS
1.67 million foreign-registered vehicles in UK in 2008, down from record 1.72 million in 2007
Foreign-registered vehicles account for more than 80% of heavy goods traffic in the UK
Prohibition rate among Czech HGVs subjected to roadworthiness tests in 2007/8 was more than 60%.
Polish and Hungarian vehicles exceeded 50% and
Belgian, German and Italian vehicles were more than 40%.
The UK rate was 37.5%
Source: Transport Committee

 

[StevieB]

Depends a bit on the sample size of trucks investigated - but for one I would say 38% of UK trucks needing work on being pulled is also unacceptably high and we should be getting our own house in order as well as putting in efforts to other countries to improve their fleets. The biggest reason for the increase in foreign lorries is the price of our fuel - a European based Haulier can fill up on the continent, do a round trip to the UK without needing fuel and then fill up again once back. This makes their prices for haulage cheaper than their UK counterparts. Somehow I doubt the government will be reducing fuel tax as a way to sort the problem though.....

Steve.

 

[woodbloke]

Continental diesel prices used to be cheaper than the UK (much cheaper around the channel ports) but with the change in the economic climate I'm not sure that's the case any more. With the collapse in the value of the £vs euro, goods on the Continent are now the same as or more expensive than the UK...hence the reason that holidays to euroland (ours included) cost a few more groats than last year.
Switzerland though, was the cheapest place for diesel - Rob

 

[CHJ]

Fuel here in Bavaria is a fraction dearer than when I left Uk 3 wks ago.