ROAD SAFETY
Page 18
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Dave McCall (Sound Off, CM915 Aug) is right to highlight road safety by whatever means he considers appropriate. The subject is far too important to be left to politicians, who claim credit when things improve, and blame others when they don't.
You only need to look at high-profile railway accidents to see that for many the first reaction is to find someone to blame. As a union representative Mr McCall has a duty to his members to improve safety in their place of work.
Using road deaths as the main criterion gives a false picture. Certainly, death rates for certain classes of road user have been falling, but no thanks to politicians. Ralph Nader has had far greater effect than any transport minister. Not all accidents are, or need be, reported, so total figures are at best a guess. Improved vehicle structures and better medical facilities have contributed most to reduced death rates.
Whether the Working Time Directive will stem the carnage is debatable. If memory serves, it was the reduction in driver fatigue which was behind the original tachograph regulations, so these should be sufficient. Tiredness is not necessarily a function of hours spent at the wheel: if one's sleep is constantly interrupted by, say, an ill child, then next day's performance on the road is likely to be degraded. The length of time for which drivers can retain concentration will vary widely between individuals so imposing an objective limit for what is a subjective problem will be only partially successful.
Aircraft safety improved immensely when confidential reporting of unsafe practices was brought in. In a fragmented industry like road haulage, whistleblovving may not have the same effect but would certainly be more beneficial than yet more arbitrary legislation on hours.
Anthony 0 Philips, Salisbury, Wilts.
• CM will be looking at safety in next week's issue—Ed.