Drivers sleep at the whee
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by Derren Hayes III Almost half the truck drivers in a CM survey admit that they have fallen asleep at the wheel—and almost all admit to coming close to dozing off.
But no less than 75% of the drivers questioned disagreed with TGWU attempts to cut the maximum working week to 50 hours, according to a poll of drivers at Clackets Lane Services. And 66% believed that drivers' hours should be limited to between eight and 10 hours per day. But they feel that restrictions on working hours could hinder the job too much. "I wouldn't earn any money", says Damon Kirby of Fareham-based Freef lag Traction Services.
Drivers say the pressures of home life and young children are to blame as well as the pressures of the job. "Quite often when they are arguing I will drive my cab over to the pub car park and sleep there the night," says Mick Haywood of Bodiam, East Sussex CJ Burgess.
Motorway driving, especially on the M25 and M40, is a pet hate, with more than of 60% of drivers complaining that it made them more tired. "It's very • bor ing", says Cobham driver Stan Allsop. "You can't see very much over here whereas in Holland you can see for miles and every other layby has toilets and showers.