Dutch survey reveals hours concern
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NEARLY seven per cent of drivers questioned in the first international survey of compliance with the EEC's social legislation have admitted they were involved in an accident caused by falling asleep at the wheel.
The survey is being carried out by the Netherlands' Gro Mugu) University, whose researchers are questioning drivers on the Dutch-German and Dutch-Belgian borders.
An interim report based on interviews with 400 drivers shows that the EEC's driving time rules are being largely ignored.
Drivers freely admitted there were many ways of cheating the tachograph. The survey showed:
In general lorry drivers ex
ceeded the daily legal driving limit by an average one and a half hours.
The average working day (including loading) is 13 hours with some men putting in up to 18 hours.
An inquiry, led by an American transport expert, Professor James O'Hanlon, is still underway. It is planned to question 800 drivers and the full results will be published next March.
Confidential copies of the interim report were sent to EEC transport ministers, but the contents were leaked.