British road users are being exposed to unnecessary risks of being involved road accidents by unsafe heavy goods vehicles (HGV).

Figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that 58,635 were ordered off the road last year with mechanical faults, overloading or drivers who were exceeding their permitted hours.

The figures show an alarming increase on the equivalent 2003 figures, almost doubling from 35,158.

Foreign drivers are being blamed for a large part of the increase with the figures showing they were responsible for 27,755 of the recorded incidents.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker has called for the Government to crackdown on dangerous lorries through greater enforcement of safety rules, also claiming that in some areas road accidents involving HGVs account for over one third of all road collisions.

One recent incident involving a German HGV driver found that he was watching a DVD on a dashboard mounted screen whilst driving at speeds of up to 60mph.

He was pulled over for a routine check by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), but continued to watch the film. It was found he had also exceeded his permitted driving hours.