Redhead waits on six
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IN Bradford magistrates are to decide whether or not it is permissable for a driver to have more than six daily driving periods within six days, in one of the first cases dealing with the interpretation of the new drivers regulations.
Bradford-based Redhead Freight and three of its drivers are accused of a series of driver's hours and tachograph offences. At the completion of the hearing last week the magistrates adjourned the case until 22 October, when they will announce their decision.
Driver Patrick Kelly of Dungiven, Northern Ireland, has denied four offences of taking insufficient weekly rest but admitted to one similar offence, and to failing to take a daily rest period. Geoffrey Bowman of Bradford admitted to three weekly rest offences and Paul Feasby of Bradford admitted to two offences of failing to complete the centre fields of charts. The company denies causing the offences.
Richard Wadkin, prosecuting, said the offences were concerned with Article 6 of the regulations which states that the weekly rest period might be postponed until the end of six days, as long as the total driving time did not exceed that corresponding to six daily driving periods.
The drivers had acted at the dictate of the company, driving in accordance with their erroneous interpretation of the regulations, thus causing them to commit the offences.
Stephen Kirkbright, defending, said that there was no evidence that the company had given the drivers a positive mandate to commit offences.