The FTA has pledged its support for the London Freight Enforcement Partnership, which was launched on October 13.

The Partnership, launched by Mike Brown, transport commissioner for London, aims to tackle unsafe HGVs in the capital.

According to the FTA, the launch of the partnership is “The right way to go and will enable a more intelligent approach to enforcement in the capital”.

Christopher Snelling, head of national and regional policy at the FTA, said:  “The vast majority of road haulage operators take safety very seriously.

“The number of HGVs involved in fatal incidents has almost halved in the last ten years.

“This is partly due to the investment by the logistics industry in improved vehicles, drivers and operating practices.”

The FTA added that it believes the partnership is a correct priority given the number of HGVs and cyclist incidents in London, and the involvement of seriously non-compliant vehicles in them. 

Snelling said: “Increased enforcement using the intelligent, targeted approach taken in London is the right way to go as it allows us to prevent the small minority of operators who do not seek to follow the rules from using the roads.  

“To have maximum effect this work needs to be part of a wide-ranging safety programme which encourages safe and legal behaviour by all road users.”

London Freight Enforcement Partnership will include more than 90 DVSA and police officers and a team of analysts, sharing intelligence and carrying out joint enforcement operations.