Driver who said British Isles were too dangerous to park in is disqualiied
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By Chris Tindall AN OPERATOR who claimed he clocked up a substantial number of drivers’ hours offences because there were parts of the British Isles that were ‘too dangerous’ for him to stop and park in has been disqualiied.
Trafic Commissioner (TC) Nick Jones branded John Coley’s claim that sites in Northern Ireland created a security risk as a “lame excuse” .
A VOSA investigation into Coley’s company, JW & EJ Coley, began after a vehicle examiner analysed tachograph charts and found evidence of offences.
Coley later admitted that he had forged another driver’s details on tachographs because he wanted to avoid being caught driving in excess of the number of drivers’ hours allowed.
His company was involved in the transportation of hanging beef carcasses, and Coley said many of the hours offences were as a result of being unable to ind suitable locations to take a break.
A public inquiry heard how his clients sought him out because he was willing to undertake work at short notice with low proit margins, even though it meant louting drivers’ hours rules and rest periods.
TC Jones said the deception was “especially serious” as it gave him a competitive advantage.
“I cannot, and do not, tolerate any operator or driver systematically ignoring drivers’ hours rules, using what I regard as a lame excuse that in certain parts of the British Isles it is too dangerous to stop,” he added.
Coley’s standard international licence for two vehicles was revoked and he was disqualiied from all trafic areas for six months. He also lost his good repute as a licence holder and transport manager.