Govt may put 3 hrs on bus driver's day
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• A strong challenge, both in Parliament and by the unions, is expected to be made to the Government's proposals for relaxing the limit on busmen's hours.
Mr John Peyton, Minister for Transport Industries, anxious to help rural operators keep their services going, will shortly be sending details of his intentions to bus operators.
The forecast is that the present maximum of 5+ hours which a driver may spend at the wheel without a break will be increased to 84 hours, and although the total working day will remain restricted to 10 hours, it will be spread over 16 hours instead of 124as at present.
Such changes would be strongly supported by the bus operators and by local authorities, particularly in country districts where the unprofitability of services under existing restrictions is causing many to be withdrawn and leading to widespread complaints.
The unions are accusing the Government of "putting the clock back to the 30s", and there is a possibility that the TGWU may impose an overtime ban which could lead to many services being unable to operate at all.