TOO MUCH ON TIME
Page 26
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The concerns with the projected implementation of the Working Time Directive on the road transport industry as elucidated by Mrs Preston in Sound Off) CM15-21 March) are symptomatic of the excessive legislation which now affects all industry, and road transport in particular, Over the decades politicians and governments have never failed to interfere with the detailed operations of the industry without considering the downside of their action.
Almost without exception, all the major decisions made and applied to transport have been proved to be falsely based over time but, unfortunately, legislators cannot be held responsible in law.
As the Chancellor identified last year, the natives are capable of reacting when they perceive that they are not being treated fairly.
Perhaps the imposition of the Working Time Directive as currently projected will trigger a similar reaction.
Mrs Preston further identified that there possibly exists a case involving the violation of an individual's human rights arising from implementing legislation if it curtails a person's right to achieve his or her reasonable expectations to work.
When legislators wish to impose their opinions, they consider it all right for them to work through the night to effect a compromise when they are extremely tired, which will affect all of us.
Much is being said by legislators about night-work in respect of health and safety problems. My records confirm that we experience lower rates of turnover and absence among our night-shift personnel and a much lower vehicle accident rate than we do with our day personnel. This hardly confirms what is being widely promulgated.
I recall reading of an ad hoc evaluation carried out in Germany some years ago in which a number of car drivers (who did not earn their living by driving) were matched against an equal number of truck drivers (who did earn their living by driving) on a journey from southern Germany to Spain.
The checks carried out on the drivers at the end of the journey indicated that the truck drivers were the least affected by the long journey.
Perhaps the time is right for some real facts to be put into the debate before what could turn out to be a major problem is imposed on the industry. Has any correctly based research ever been carried out?
J D Barber ECM
Huddersfield.