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We are drowning under too many rules and regs
Page 17
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THE NEW conspicuity regulations are the last straw for me (CM 24 September). The last morsel of respect I had for the rule-makers of our industry has now gone.
I see 'they' (Paul Clark — Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport) are now talking about deferring the introduction of these regulations because of the cost to the industry. Have `they' gone completely insane? The cost of a few stickers is infinitesimal on the price of a new truck.
What really gets me is the total lack of thought that is behind this. In the past, we have had extra lights and reflectors added, fair enough, but now we have to have reflective stickers to show the outline. How far away do you need to be, to be able to see the side of a truck — the next county?
The motorway at night is going to be ablaze with lights. You probably won't notice the cars, and what chance have motorbikes got?
What about the real 'knights of the road' that have been so completely ignored? The best people in this industry, the people that have pride in their work and the trucks they drive!
How are 'Captain Scarlet' or the 'Lord of the Rings' going to look with a bloody great reflective stripe through the middle of them? I spoke to one such driver, after admiring his truck the other day. He said: "F*** that, they're not going on."
And the Road Haulage Association says it's too small an issue to get involved in. How pompous. Like it's doing other things! What about a bigger issue such as priority for trucks leaving service areas? Or is that too small, too?
What about the first 18-year-old to kill a family when he rolls his truck onto them at a roundabout because he's playing boy racer? That must also be too small.
The reduced age limit happened in the blink of an eye because the industry will be desperate for drivers in a few years, and it is taking desperate measures to recruit them.
Methods commonly used in other industries are not the way (ie training/youth opportunities).1 don't know many people that wanted to be career-drivers. I got my licence in 1984 because I heard you could earn 2,500 per week driving to Italy... Others I know drove to finance studies or wanted to pay their mortgage off in five or 10 years.
Create an industry where you can earn £1,000 per week driving (eg minimum haulage rate) and employers will be able to pick the wheat from the chaff Pride and professionalism will be restored naturally. Instead, they are being imposed on us through the Driver CPC and more oppressive rules and regulations than you can shake a stick at.
John English Via email PS. Why isn't the letters page bigger? Do you only get two a week?
Ed's note: We get many more letters than just two a week. If readers have an appetite for more letters and opinions, please get in touch and let me know.