TRUCKERS visiting Britain's biggest port have today been given a reminder of safety advice as part of ongoing efforts to prevent accidents at the busy complex.

TRUCKERS visiting Britain's biggest port have today been given a reminder of safety advice as part of ongoing efforts to prevent accidents at the busy complex.

Tens of thousands of leaflets are being handed out to help lorry drivers, including clear advice on what to do about the twistlocks which secure containers to the trailers on their articulated vehicles.

In recent years, there have been a number of accidents where the locks have been on when a box has been lifted from a trailer – and drivers injured when their truck has been accidently lifted off the ground.

The new "dos and don'ts" leaflet being given out at Felixstowe port stresses that drivers must unlock their twistlocks at the container park in gates and lock them again at the out gates.

They must not attend to the locks once on the container park and if there is a problem at any time should sound their horn continuously.

Port chiefs say the Safety Instructions for Hauliers leaflet will ensure optimum safety around the 700-acre port complex, especially quayside areas.

The leaflet emphasises that the UK Road Traffic Acts are still in force on the privately-owned port, enforced by the port's own police, and hauliers must abide by the laws as if on normal highways.

It also includes instructions to remain inside the cab to avoid being hit by cranes, keeping to 20 mph speed limits, not driving under suspended loads, being fully aware of working cranes, and the importance of wearing high visibility clothing.

Chief operating officer Chris Lewis said: "The Port of Felixstowe is the largest container port in the UK.

It is the direct employer of 2,800 staff, and on an average day we service around 4,000 lorries.

"Added to this, there are large numbers of other vehicles travelling around the port, making it a very busy place. We have a duty to our employees and all users of this port to make it as safe a place as possible to work or visit."

The leaflets are available from the drivers receptions and the gatehouses at Trinity, Dooley and Landguard Terminals, and also being distributed to known hauliers who operate in Felixstowe, and to the Road Haulage Association.