Better roadside facilities sought for lorry drivers
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• The Ministry of Transport has been asked to convene a meeting of interested parties to 'consider the growing problem of parking space for commercial vehicles and sleeping accommodation for the drivers. The request comes from the Road Transport Catering and Accommodation Joint Committee on which are represented the Road Haulage Association, the Freight Transport. Association, the Transport and General Workers' Union, the United Road Transport Union and the Scottish Commercial Motormen's Union.
It is suggested that other interests to be represented at the proposed meeting should include planning authorities throughout the country, chief constables and the Home Office.
The joint committee believes that the provision of proper sleeping accommodation and secure parking is vital to the well-being of drivers of commercial goods vehicles, and to the proper functioning of the road haulage industry. There is already a shortage of adequate overnight accommodation near motorways and the committee has told the Ministry that it is particularly concerned at the likely increase in demand following the reductions in the maximum permitted drivers' hours proposed in the Transport Act 1968.
"At present overnight accommodation cannot be provided on motorways," the committee states, "but it is also very difficult to secure planning permission on or near the slip roads where this accommodation would be most valuable. There will of course be a need for space for the secure parking of vehicles immediately adjacent to the sleeping accommodation as it is now accepted that these two facilities cannot be separated."
An investigation is being made of the present facilities. It is considered that much of the existing accommodation is too far away from what are now the main routes, including motorways, and that standards of comfort have not been improving in line with general standards.
The committee periodically publishes a drivers' guide to help road transport workers find good food and accommodation on the road at reasonable prices. A general review is now being undertaken of all the premises in the guide and of others which have been recommended for inclusion. Additional information which it is proposed to obtain for the next edition will include the price of meals and an assessment of their quality.