With 33 different boroughs in London all applying their rules in different ways for loading and unloading (often depending on the size of vehicle and the time of day the delivery is being made), and with no clear signage to indicate the time allowed to make that delivery, FTA says it is impossible for drivers to know exactly what they can and can’t do.
The Association says that the confusion has lead to a 50% leap in the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) being issued in London, and is urging companies to train their drivers in identifying PCN hotspots.
A recent survey of FTA members found that one-third of the enforcement authorities accounted for nearly all PCNs issued (80%), with the London Borough of Westminster, London Borough of Camden, City of London and Transport for London being more likely to issue to PCNs to FTA members than other London boroughs.
Natalie Chapman, FTA’s head of policy for London, commented: ‘One of the issues with yellow lines for delivery drivers is that there are no signs to indicate exactly how much time is permitted for loading and unloading, and as this changes from borough to borough throughout London, drivers can’t possibly be expected to know how long they have to make their deliveries.
‘Commercial vehicle operators have grown smarter when dealing with the problems of making deliveries in the unfriendly roadside environment of central London, but the findings of the FTA survey suggest that there is a need for them to improve their understanding of how certain parking restrictions apply. As well as training drivers and identifying PCN hotspots, a well-targeted and intelligent approach to appealing unfair PCNs could save some companies hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.’
FTA operates a PCN Administration Support service, and also has a range of compliance and support materials to help members manage their PCNs. These include a Compliance Guide, Driver Card and a Delivery Assessment Guide, which was written with the co-operation of a Westminster Council official and provides advice for commercial vehicle operators. Visit www.fta.co.uk/pcn for more details.