Extend the day
Page 4
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SUPPORT is growing in Europe for the extension of the driving day from eight to nine hours. There seems to be very little reason why the extension should not be made.
The savage reduction from a 14 hour day to one of eight over the past decade was done for the best possible reason — road safety.
However, conditions have changed dramatically during this period. The factors which contributed to tired drivers being involved in accidents have either been removed or drastically reduced.
The road network has been improved and there are now rest areas at sensible intervals on Motorways — the M25 apart.
Vehicle cabs are more comfortable and much less noisy. Overnight accommodation now offers drivers a decent standard of comfort. All of these factors lead to safer drivers and a reduction in accidents. So why not extend the driving day now?
Unfortunately the EEC Transport Commission is not given to making even simple decisions speedily. There are too many national interests to be considered.
It is beyond the wit of the Eurocrats to introduce optional legislation which would allow countries to adopt a nine-hour day or reject it as each saw fit? What we consider suitable will not necessarily suit some of the other nine.
Precedents for making national traffic laws abound. Speed limits and weekend bans are but two glaring examples.
The Commissioners should set an upper limit of nine hours and let national governments make their own arrangements.