*Better beds
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In the same issue of Kingpin John Castle, a J. Lyons driver, has some pretty strong things to say about poor standards of night accommodation for drivers. He reckons that nine out of 10 places are way below minimum standards and many are disgusting.
A man coming off the road from the wheel of a big lorry should be treated, says John, as someone with a responsibility for road safety who needs to be properly rested before starting his next stint.
The problem becomes more pressing with the prospect that, when shorter driving hours come in, many more men may be spending nights away from home. He puts forward some constructive suggestions for improving accommodation standards and suggests that the sleeper cab could provide rest when it is most needed, especially with two-man crews. This raises more complex legal considerations but the new definition of driving time could well influence a move in this direction.
It has always surprised me that the transport trade unions have not taken a greater part in getting better standards of accommodation. Though, to be fair, there are now some excellent overnight stops for drivers.