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Page 4
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Hours dilemma faces
new Minister by CM reporter
EEC also under Continental pressure to reconsider 543/69
ONE of the most pressing issues fading the new Minister For Transport, Dr John Gilbert, this week was to decide how the implementation of the EEC driving hours and tachograph regulations—officially due to take effect in Britain from next January 1—is to be tackled.
At the Confederation of British Road Passenger Transport's 'conference in Eastbourne !last week, the outgoing president, Sir Richard Way, welcomed indications that the Government was having second thoughts about the introduction of the shorter EEC driving day as scheduled, lle was referring to a letter from the DoE to the Confederation earlier this year which pledged that: "Until the future stage of Regulation 543/69 becomes clearer, we are not disposed to bring forward any proposals 'for implementing the Regulation from January next."
This week the DoE told CM that, though the new legislation is due to be implemented next January 1, the Minister will be considering all the implications before reaching any decision.
Meanwhile in Brussels it is becoming dear that perhaps a majority of the Nine are willing to see the eight-hour day rule (already implemented in the Six) lifted in favour of a less onerous requirement; and there now seems little support for a continuation of the 450km (280mile) daily driver limit for antics and heavy goods vehicle.
Even the Germans, hitherto supporters of the Regulation, are now reportedly prepared to see this changed.
Considerable surprise has been caused by a French suggestion in the EEC transport working party that hours regulations should be abandoned for all vehicles below 6 tonnes gvw.
Even countries in the original Six which should already have enforced 543/69 have not done so fully because they have still not introduced tachographs on all vehicles required by the EEC to have them.
British operator associations —both goods and passenger— and the trade unions have told the DoE, and especially the outgoing Minister, Mr Mulley, of their 'opposition to 543/69 as it stands.
One of the stumbling blocks, should the new Minister wish to go ahead with January 1976 implementation, is that hours and tachographs were intended as a simultaneous package, and the possibility of fitting tachographs to all eligible vehicles by January 1 must now be in serious doubt.