'DANGEROUS' HOURS • I attended a meeting with Transport Secretary,
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John Moore, on July 3 when he was appraised of the union's total opposition to the proposals for September 29, folly on drivers' hours, rest periods etc. I give him full credit for listening very attentively and for agreeing to study fully what was said, stat ing that being so new to this office he was not as fully in the picture as he needed to be.
The new proposals will be a heaven-sent bonus for the legal profession who will enjoy the fees they will earn unravelling the mumbo jumbo.
Safety was highlighted to the Transport Secretary as being the number one priority — with the irresponsible elements in our industry driving ever faster; with the noticeable absence of "speed kills" publicity; with standards of vehicle maintenance criticised by Junior Transport Minister Peter Bottomley; and with training and retraining no longer considered necessary. Add to that the exemption of vehicles on parcels delivery from the EEC hours regulations (their drivers not being subjected to any enforceable defined starting or finishing bands, rest periods or breaks), and, yes, our roads will be less safe. Yes, our accident rate will increase, and yes, our Department of Transport will be to blame.
But is it too late? John Moore did say he would carefully study what was said to him.
I hope and pray he will realise that the proposals can't in total be good for anybody and are dangerous to all.
Amendments are possible. Jackson Moore, General secretary, United Road Transport Union, Charlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.