The Northern Ireland Protocol was introduced as part of the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU, to avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, whilst ensuring that the UK, including Northern Ireland, could leave the EU as a whole. Therefore, it included a number of special provisions which apply only in Northern Ireland from 1 January … Read More
TIGHTENING RESTRICTIONS ON MOBILE PHONE USE AT THE WHEEL
Driving a vehicle is one of the most hazardous activities that many people carry out and it is important that drivers are able to concentrate on the task in hand. As such the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving has been prohibited in the UK for many years. However since the legislation was introduced, technology has progressed leading to … Read More
SOUNDING THE LOCKDOWN ALARM (NOT COVID-19)
For clarity we will start with a quick note that this is not another article about Coronavirus. It is common for properties to be fitted with fire alarm systems to alert people to a fire and to inform them to evacuate the building. There are a number of different types of alarm system that can be installed depending on the … Read More
FEBRUARY DEADLINE ANNOUNCED FOR OLD TYRES
We have previously reported on Government plans to improve road safety by making it illegal to fit tyres aged 10 years or older to the front wheels of lorries, buses and coaches and to any wheels of minibuses. The Government recently announced that these measures will come into force from February 2021. From that date, it will become illegal to … Read More
PAVEMENT PARKING BAN CONSULTATION
Parking on pavements can cause real problems for pedestrians, especially for wheelchair users, people with visual impairments and those with prams or buggies. However in many narrow streets pavement parking is necessary to maintain free-flowing traffic, including for emergency services and it is not always easy to get the balance right. Currently in most of England parking on pavements and … Read More
NEW FIRE SAFETY GUIDANCE FOR HOLES IN WALLS etc
Walls, floors and ceilings play an important role in containing and slowing the spread of fire in buildings and are an important factor in managing risk and allowing people to escape safely in an emergency. The compartmentation of buildings provided by properly constructed walls, floors and ceilings helps contain fire for a certain amount of time in the area of … Read More
HIGHWAY CODE CONSULTATION LAUNCHED
The Department for Transport has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the Highway Code which are intended to make roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and other vulnerable users. The main changes that are being proposed include: • introducing a hierarchy of road users. This will give greater responsibility for reducing risk to others to those road users … Read More
CHANGES TO DRIVERS’ HOURS AND TACHOGRAPH RULES
Some changes to the EU drivers’ hours and tachographs rules came into force on 20th August 2020. These changes include: • a requirement for drivers to ‘return home’ every 4 weeks, that is to their base or country of residence • a ban on taking regular weekly rest periods in the driver’s vehicle. Such rest periods must be taken in … Read More
TYRED OUT
The department for Transport has announced that it will soon be made illegal to fit tyres aged 10 years or older to the front wheels of lorries, buses and coaches and to any wheels of minibuses. Legislation is expected in the autumn. Legislation will also make it mandatory for tyres to show a clearly visible date of manufacture, this will … Read More
RECORD LOW FOR FATAL WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS IN THE UK
The latest statistics just released by the HSE show that in the year April 2019 to March 2020, 111 workers were killed as a result of accidents at work. This compares to 149 deaths the previous year and is the lowest level on record, however at this stage it is not possible to say what impact the current COVID-19 pandemic … Read More