a The Government has been condemned for refusing to toughen
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up the drink driving laws for drivers of buses, and of lorries carrying dangerous goods.
Labour MP Gareth Wardell, has asked the Department of Transport whether they have any plans to stop such drivers from drinking any alcohol during their working hours and during the six hours before they start work — a policy which already applies to airline pilots.
Junior Transport Minister Peter Bottomley, however, says the Government sees no case for any requirements beyond the existing rules. "I believe that professional drivers are, in general, particularly aware of the risks associated with drinking and driving and set high standards of conduct in this respect."
Drivers with vocational licences were aware that their licence would not be automatically restored at the end of a period of disqualification resulting from a drink driving conviction, he added.
Wardell says Bottomley's answer is "pretty unsatisfactory".