Driver acted as watchdog
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• A case before Preston borough magistrates, concerning drivers' hours was unusual, because it was the result of information provided to the North Western LA by another lorry driver.
The magistrates were told this by Mr J. S. Lawton, prosecuting, after driver George William Batterbee, 7 Norfolk Road, Preston, had pleaded guilty to four offences concerning records on January 30, this year.
Mr Lawton said information was received that a lorry driver en route from Barking to Birmingham had passed a 40ft semi-trailer proceeding north on MI, which he recognized as one he had seen earlier in the day. As it was then 10 p.m he suspected the driver of the towing vehicle was working excessive hours.
Inquiries were made at the premises of Batterbee's employers at Ribehester, Lancs, and the records showed that he claimed to have finished work on January 30 at 17.30 hours. When first interviewed his explanation was that his father-in-law had died and he had to drive home after working hours.
This statement was checked and found to be untrue; when interviewed a second time Batterbee said that his father-in-law had been ill.
Mr Lawton submitted that, apart from the question of public safety, it was of great importance that drivers should be discouraged from making excuses which were untrue. The defendant could have shown the reason for working excessive hours on his log sheet without falsifying it and in cases of genuine emergency the LA would undoubtedly take a lenient view. It was now admitted he had arrived home at 3 am on January 31.
Batterbee said he was no longer employed on long-distance container work and was now working in local haulage and earning between £40 and £50 weekly, before stoppages.
Describing the case as a serious one, the magistrates imposed fines and costs totalling £88 — £50 for falsifying records; £10 for exceeding 10 hours driving; £5 for exceeding 11 hours on duty; and £5 for not having rest after 5+ hours; plus £18 costs.