Responsibility for Excessive Hours
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TN Falkirk .Sheriff Court, last Friday, 1Sheriff Robertson gi've 'judgmentin a case in which Mr. William Alexander Mitchell, haulage .contractor, 113, Kerse Road, Grangemouth, was charged with having caused or permitted drivers in his employ to drive for excessive periods.
It was admitted that the men's log. books showed that the periods of driving were in excess of the 11 hours stipulated in the Act. It was contended, however, that the defendant had issued an instruction to his drivers to observe the regulations, and that it was not until the log books were returned that he became aware that the instruction had not been obeyed.
Sheriff Robertson, commenting on one of the alleged offenees, referred to the fact that the driver in question was engaged in the north of England. From the evidence, 'there Seemed to be no reason why the man should not have obeyed his instruction by spending at least another half-hour in resting, The Sheriff did not see how, in that instance, the defendant could have any personal control over the driver, beyond telling him that he -was not to exceed . 11 hours' driving in 24 hours.
Sheriff Robertson found Mr. Mitchell guilty of having, on two occasions, sent out drivers before they had completed the statutory rest periods, and imposed a fine of £1 for each offence.