IC wants hours and mhos in NV test
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is by Mike Jewell
North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Mark Hinchliffe has called for the LGV driving test to include a more thorough written examination on the drivers' hours and tachograph rules. Minchliffe made his appeal after revoking the HGV licence of a driver who was involved in a fatal accident. The driver was found to have broken the hours rules after working in a factory during the day and then driving at night The police gave evidence that Alan Bottom, who had been driving for Aldred & Harper, of Gammon Lane Burn, near Selby, had collided with a car as it came out of a side road on to the A19 YorkDoncaster road.
Bottom had worked until 17:00hrs the day before the accident. He then started driving at 19:47hrs, making a delivery to Tosco, and rested for 5hr 40min. The accident happened on the return journey. The chart in use at the time of the accident was false. Bottom had not taken the required daily rest, and he had driven for 5hr 41min before the accident with a break of only 38min.
An analysis of three months' tech charts obtained from 'Wired & Harper revealed a series of offences by 10 drivers, including both of the firm's partners. Many of these were said to be down to carelessness rather than the drivers being pushed, Bottom told the Deputy IC that he was unaware he could not drive during the night after working for someone else during the day.
Hinchliffe said he had considered disqualifying Bottom until he had taken a further LGV driving test, but there was little point as the test did not cover the drivers' hours and tachograph rules. "In my view," he said, "it is a matter of regret, reinforced by this case, that the LGV test does not include a written examination in regard to the drivers' hours and tachograph rules."
The other drivers for the firm, including its partners, Beverley Aldred and Thomas Harper, were all given formal warnings.