MO calls time on AA Relay
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
I The loophole which allows the iA and RAC to operate recovry vehicles without tachoraphs has come under fire -am the Association of Vehicle lecovery Operators.
The law states that recovery perators are only required to eep to a daily maximum of 10 ours driving or 11 hours work. iut some industry figures have uestioned whether Relay tork—trunking AA members nd their cars on to their final estinations—should be coyred by this exemption.
AVRO legal expert Brian irury says that for long'stance work recovery operaprs should be brought into line rith the rest of Europe: "In mainind Europe they don't count as ecovery vehicles and they have ) abide by the drivers' hours Liles of each country.
"It's not so bad doing recov ery work but when driving long distances you do tend to fall asleep," Drury adds.
The AA says that drivers should take a 30-minute break within g hours of starting a shift, compared with 45 minutes every 4v, hours under the tacho rules. However, one Relay driver has told CM that he often exceeds this limit when he is busy. "The reality is that you don't want to take a break when there's someone with you in the cab," he explains.
A spokesman for the AA says that as the average journey time for Relay drivers is 26 hours, their breaks are planned into their work schedule. We are currently unaware of any of these types of cases," he adds.