Tacho and hours
Page 55
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
MUCH confusion is evident in the comments and opinions expressed in the press recently, by trade associations, trade unions and others on tachographs and drivers' hours regulations. There is no direct relationship between the two.
In EEC law, now United Kingdom law, they are governed by two entirely different statutes — 1463/70 for tachographs, for which no deferment has been sought, and 543/69 for drivers' hours, implementation of which has been deferred until March 1, 1977. Their only relationship is that one records the other, and that's the rub.
Accurate recording of driving time will discover the dishonest driver and the 'cowboy' operator, it will pin-point low productivity, inefficient loading and unloading, bad vehicle routeing, bad driving, and many other evils which are rife in some sectors of the road transport industry. The honest and law abiding driver and operator have nothing to fear from the tachographs.
The introduction of the European drivers hours regulations (543/69) will free the UK transport industry from the 11 hour working day straight-jacket imposed since 1968. This 11 hour working day includes up to 10 hours allowed 'behind the wheel'. EEC regulations impose eight hours maximum 'behind the wheel' but with the flexibility of not less than 11 hours rest in any period of 24 hours.
More than 80 per cent of all transport operation in the UK is short-haul and it is doubtful if most drivers spend longer than four or five hours actually :behind the wheel' but cumulative delays, loading, unloading and waiting during the working day, extend it up to and beyond the 11 hour maximum, thus forcing drivers to spend nights away from base, or to break the law returning home.
The accurate measurement of time 'behind the wheel' which the tachograph will record, as well as speed and distance, coupled with the greater flexibility of EEC drivers hours law, will produce benefits for all drivers and operators except the relative few on long distance trunking.
The upsurge in productivity and hence drivers wages, arising from the introduction of the tachograph, will be of considerable help in rescuing this country from its present economic problems.
J. P. WELLS Transport Consultant Limps field Chart, Surrey