French put back the hours clock
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FRANCE has " rescinded " EEC drivers' hours and manning regulations as laid down in articles 6, 7 and 11 of the EEC Regulation 543/69 and reverted to its own domestic laws which were in operation until 1970.
This means that in France daily driving time is once again 10 hours instead of Europe's eight; the maximum driving period allowed between rests is now five and not four; there is no specified minimum rest neriod in France and no 450km daily driving limit for heavies.
The EEC Commission was saying nothing officially this week, but CM understands that it is preparing a case to bring France before the European Court of Justice. The matter is expected to appear on the EEC Transport Committee agenda on October 15 when Dr John Gilbert is to appeal for a stay of implementation of 543/69 for Britain.
A Commission spokesman in London said : "The first notice of the French move appeared in a French journal last month after a junior Minister, Monsieur Marcel Cavaillet, an Under-Secretary of State at the Transport Ministry, had signed the order." There had been no previous notification of intent to Brussels. Since the signing the Commissioners had twice written to the French Government seeking an explanation; both letters had been ignored, the spokesman said.
The London spokesman for the Commission added : "We are aware that there has been a certain amount of disquiet among member countries over the drivers' hours regulations and the French action could lead to a breakdown in the system."