Hours cases prompt VI to review 'fortnights'
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Breaches of the fortnightly driving limit cost Gloucester haulage company Roadguide and four of its drivers £1,840 in fines and casts when they appeared before the North Avon magistrates. Driver Edwin Dowton pleaded guilty to four offences of exceed ing the fortnightly driving limit and was fined £250 with £30 costs. Driver David Jones pleaded guilty to three similar offences and to one offence of failing to take sufficient daily rest. He was fined 5,55 with £30 costs.
Driver Andrew Kinsella was convicted of three offences of exceeding the fortnightly limit and fined £250 with £,30 costs. Driver Terence Thomas was convicted of one hours offence and two offences of taking insufficient daily rest. He was fined £70 with £30 costs.
The company pleaded guilty to 11 offences of permitting the drivers to exceed 90 hours' driving in a fortnight: it was fined £825 with £300 costs.
Prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, Edward Lyons said the VI was now looking more closely at the fortnightly driving limit. The offences had come to light during a routine check of the company's tachograph records.
Defending, Mark Hammond said these were not the usual type of drivers' hours offences.
The company had previously had a good track record and it had since spent a lot of money putting in a system to ensure that such offences were not committed in the future.