Bowles treated charts like handing out sweets
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poi by lan Wylie
Roy Bowles Transport—the Heathrow airfreight haulier at the centre of an Old Halley manslaughter trial—gave out tacho charts "like sweeties", a former employee has told the court.
Directors Stephen and Julie Bowles, company secretary Victor Willard and driver Andrew Cox are on trial after Cox caused a seven-vehicle pileup and two deaths on the M25 two years ago.
The jury has heard how Cox, who nodded off at the wheel, was an "accident waiting to happen" after working up to 60 hours a week, Nearly six grams of cannabis were also found in his cab following the accident. The prosecution alleges that the company bosses were "grossly negligent because they knew or ought to have known that Cox was in a dangerously defective state because he was working excessive hours".
Former driver Robin Whincup told the court the company dished out tachos "like sweeties". Whincup, who was fined by Slough magistrates for falsifying tacho charts. said he committed the offence so he could work longer hours.
The jury heard how the company gave drivers a manual which warned of dismissal if anyone was caught tampering with tachos but Whincup said he did not know of anyone who had been dismissed during his five months with the firm in 1997.
Forensic tachograph consultant Keith Uoyd said Cox's tachograph chart suggested his Mercedes truck began to slow down from 68mph to 65mph about 500 metres before the accident. He said the chart had not revealed any firm or heavy braking, "It is a gradual decline In speed.'' Cox denies two charges of causing death by dangerous driving. All three bosses deny two charges of manslaughter.
The trial continues.