Driver's appeal partially successful
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• If a driver is delayed on a journey and consequently makes out a false driver's hours record, he faces a danger that although he may not have spent the excess time driving, the act of making the false entry could influence him on some future occasion.
This warning was given by Mr John Else, West Midland LA, in Birmingham last week when he heard an appeal by Mr Anthony Taylor, a Worcester lorry driver, against a decision to suspend his hgv driving licence for an eight-week period following magistrates' convictions last year related to driver's hours records offences. Mr Taylor was convicted in July and December last year for failing to keep a current driver's hours record and for failing to keep a record of driving hours and failing to take 10 hours of consecutive rest.
In his appeal, Mr Taylor, who is employed by Edgar Newman Ltd. of Fladbury, said that the convictions were the results of loading difficulties. He explained that on the days the offences were committed he had been delayed at docks and had not spent any extra time driving. He added that as he was a married man with young children the suspension would be particularly harmful.
Giving evidence on behalf of Mr Taylor, the managing director of the firm, Mr E. Newman, said that as the company only operated the one vehicle which Mr Taylor drove, it would' be necessary to lay him off over the eight-week period.
After hearing the appeal, Mr Else said that in the circumstances he was prepared to reduce the suspension from one of eight weeks to one of four weeks commencing on April 19.