Council Member Eugene Drennan gives an insight into the challenges facing drivers and their employers when approaching French Ports. Intimidation, fear for life and limb only to rewarded with arrest and fines, impounded vehicles and increased insurance premiums. Guilty until proven innocent. No support, no redress.
Verona Murphy spoke to Pat Kenny on the issue of illegal immigrants at the Borders and the impossible position hauliers and drivers find themselves in when dealing with this problem, despite all checks and efforts made by drivers and operators to prevent it.
Verona Murphy spoke to Michael Reade as further details of the tragedy involving 39 immigrants who perished trying to enter the UK illegally in a trailer pulled by an Irish owned Bulgarian truck.
Verona Murphy spoke to Pat Kenny on the issue of illegal immigrants at the Borders and the issue of Irish owned vehicle registered outside the State, following the tragic discovery in Essex on 23rd October.
Paul Jackman, Deputy Vice President of the Irish Road Haulage Association takes a truck on a trip down the R681 from Kill to Kilmeadan in Co Waterford to illustrate the difficulties HGVs face on a dialy basis navigating regional roads throughout Ireland.
The problem - roadside hazards such as overgrown hedges, trees and even road signs. This is a major threat to road safety both for the truck driver but also other road users as all too often the truck is forced onto the middle of the road in order to avoid colliding with overhanging branches.This affects every haulier in the country and every member needs to share this video with their local County Council and local public representatives, and with the local Garda Roads Policing Unit. We at the IRHA would welcome videos, similar to Paul's of other routes around the country, showing these hazards and we can compile a list of particularly bad spots and bring this to the attention of the County Councils to bring pressure on them to address this serious issue. Any videos received will be posted here (video without audio is perfectly fine so long as you let us know the location).