Owner-driver `pulled the fuse'
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ii... When drivers have worries it is even more — , important that they stick to the drivers' hours rules, as many accidents are caused by a lack of concentration.
This was said by Welsh Traffic Commissioner David Dixon when Bagilt. Flintshirebased Neil Simon appeared before him at a Mold disciplinary inquiry.
Simon had been fined .£1,000 by the Wrexham magistrates after pleading guilty to 33 offences of the falsification of tachograph records.
Traffic examiner Geoffrey Whitley said that between June 1998 and September 1999 he had been involved in a major investigation into the widespread falsification of tachograph records by the tipper industry in North Wales. Simon's vehicle was fitted with a type of tachograph that readily lent itself to abuse. The "scam" was that drivers would set the mode switch in the down position and then ''pull the fuse" so that rest was recorded no matter what the vehicle was doing.
The examination of tachograph charts compared with delivery notes obtained from Tarmac Quarry Products revealed that journeys had either been partly or completely unrecorded and Simon readily admitted what he had done.
Agreeing that the last offence had been committed in July 1998, Whitley said that that was the time when most drivers in the area realised that a major investigation was taking place.
Simon said that until July 1997 he had been employed by Vale Haulage of Ruthin. That firm ceased trading and he decided to start his own business. He was under considerable pressure due to the illness of his baby son and he had wanted to get home to help his wife because of two other children. He was aware of what other drivers were doing and it was suggested that he work through his dinner break to get home early and it became a habit.
He had learned a severe lesson. He agreed that he had broken the promise to ensure the drivers' hours rules were complied with shortly after his licence was granted.
Suspending Simon's 0-licence and HGV driving entitlement for two weeks. the TC said that Simon's initiative in setting up his own business was commendable and it was all the more regrettable that he had put it all at risk by deliberately breaking the law.
He warned that if there were any further offences he could not avoid revoking Simon's licence.