Fatigue crackdown takes Flynn off road
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I by David Craik
The crackdown on drivers falsifying tachograph records has led to the second 12-month suspension of an HGV driving licence in a few weeks.
East Lothian-based driver Hugh Flynn was put off the road for 12 months at an Edinburgh public inquiry on 2 March. He had been called before the inquiry to answer sioners, has grown increas charges of drivers hours and tachograph offences.
Earlier this month Essex driver Dean Mi!bourne lost his licence for a year after being convicted of two careless driving offences by beside crown court ( CM 4-10 March).
The industry, led by the concerns of Traffic Commis
ingly worried over the spate of NOV accidents caused by driver error, particularly through fatigue.
The Ms fear that once tachograph records have been falsified there is no way of telling how seriously the hours limits have been breached. And they warn that more drivers will face the same sentence issued to Mi!bourne and Flynn.
At the same Edinburgh public inquiry Flynn's firm, Tranent -based Richard Flynn and Son had its licence authorisation slashed on the grounds of poor maintenance. It was cut from 15 vehicles and 15 trailers reduced to 6 vehicles and 4 trailers, and Scottish IC Michael Betts said it would be "unlikely" that any increase would be granted for "at least one year."
He ordered mechanics and drivers at the firm to attend vehicle inspection courses, which have to be completed within three months of the inquiry.