BRITAIN faces a "Catch 22" situation over EEC regulations on
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whether to allow the controversial rules on hours to come into effect next year or to wait for a new rule that will also make it illegal to use a heavy lorry without a tachograph. Labour MP John Evans who is chairman of the EEC transport committee told the Commons last week.
The new regulation — 642/76 — is intended by the EEC to replace the present hours regulation, 543/69, which limits the driving day to eight hours, and for which Britain has obtained deferment until December.
Under the proposed new rules, if a tacho is not fitted it will be illegal to drive a lorry for the full eight hours with a second crew member, and journeys will have to end after 450km (281 miles).
In a debate on the rules in the House of Commons, Mr Evans said members had to face the difficulty that in this country transport workers are wholly opposed to the use of tachographs.
It was on the point of removal of the 450km limit for daily journeys that the Continental trade unions were united, he said.
But the House heard that Britain has "not a snowball's chance in hell of the full Council (of the EEC) unanimously adopting a proposal that 543/69 should be amended," as would be needed to change the rules, said Mr Evans.
Opposition transport spokesman, Norman Fowler said: "There's no disputing the fact that these rules if applied would have a highly damaging effect on our bus and coach industry. They would increase costs and put up fares, services would have to be cut and the deficit of passenger transport operators would be made worse, said Mr Fowler.