DUNDEE HAULIERS FOR TRIAL
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H"could a Dundee firm of haulage contractors control the actions of one of its drivers in Liverpool at 4 o'clock in the morning? This query was put by Sheriff R. A. Inglis at Dundee Sheriff Court last .week when Allison's Transport (Contracts) Ltd. and three of the company's drivers were charged with log sheet and driving hours offences.
In two cases the drivers were charged with failing to keep correct current records and driving for longer periods than permitted.. In the third case the driver was charged with failing to keep correct records. Allison's Transport was charged in all three cases with failing to cause the proper records to be kept, and causing and permitting the drivers to drive longer than the permitted hours.
In all cases the drivers pleaded guilty to the charges, but Mr. John Ross, solicitor, entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Allison's. Mr. Hamish Stirling, prosecuting, said the records of one driver showed that he had left Liverpool at 4 a.m. on June 12, yet he had been observed in Perth at 6.10 a.m, that day.
Sheriff Inglis intervened to ask how Allison's could know what their driver was doing. They were charged with failing to cause the driver, to keep proper records, he said. How could they control someone who war.' in Liverpool at 4 o'clock in the Morning? Mr. Stirling said there Was a statutory obligation on the firm.
The Sheriff then read extracts from a letter of mitigation from the driver in which he admitted he was aware that he was breaking. the rules and regulations. The driver's explanation was.that he had been worried "about his wife and wanted to get home in a hurry, so he drove for 16 hours.' "'Heir very sorry, but that has nothing to do with Allison's. How can you blame them?" • The Sheriff fixed trial for Allison's in all three cases for February 3 next year, and deferred sentence on the drivers until that day.