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Drivers , hours proposals
Page 5
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stall in 'chaotic' meeting
• A deadlock in negotiations could mean controversial changes to drivers' hours rules being scrapped altogether later this year.
European Union sources say an initial meeting of transport ministers to discuss the new directive descended into chaos. Member states now only have one more meeting, on 13 September, to resolve their differences. If they fail, the changes will probably be dropped altogether, according to the Freight Transport Association.
James Hookham, FIA policy director, says there will be "a huge sigh of relief' if so.
"These changes are just one more burden on the transport industry that we don't need ."
He adds that even if the changes are implemented, the apparent level of disagreement means they will have to be heavily diluted.
Amendments proposed by MEP Helmuth Markov have particularly angered the FTA and the Road Haulage Association. They include a lower maximum weekly driving time Of 45 hours rather than 56 and increasing the minimum daily rest period from nine to 10 hours (CM11-17 July).
Liam Boyle, who specialise; in drivers' hours issues for thE RHA, says: "They will have z marked impact, particularly wit,' regard to rest periods. TherE are lots of facets to thesE changes that might affect individi ual sectors differently."
However, he says it is still toc soon to write off the changes "There may be signs of a break. down but that is purely coejeo ture until the Council (of minis. ters) has met again."
Hookham points out that if nc amendments go through, the UK government will face severs problems with the introductior of digital tachographs frorr 2004. This is because it was rely. ing on one part of the directive tc ensure drivers record the exact length of time between each stint at the wheel.