TRTA team in talks with MoT on drivers' hours proposals
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ATRADERS Road Transport Association deputation yesterday met MoT officials to discuss drivers' hours and records.
The TRTA team consisted of two national vice-chairmen, Mr. H. M. Floyd, of the Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd., and Mr. J. R. Elliot of Alcan Industries Ltd., and assistant secretary Mr. G. Turvey.
The Association has already proposed: • That full account should be taken of the economic effects of any change. Accordingly, a reduction of maximum driving time should only be considered as part of a wider review embracing wages and productivity.
• That "driving time" should be redefined to l'elate simply to time behind the wheel.
• That a maximum working week should be considered as an alternative to any reduction of daily hours, thus giving valuable flexibility to distribution operations.
• That enforcement of existing limits should have priority over a reduction of maximum hours.
• That exemption from the need to keep drivers' records in certain fields, e.g. light vehicles, would both be realistic and facilitate more intensive enforcement in the fields where abuse is most likely to occur.
'More accidents' Meanwhile a North Staffordshire group of transport managers claims that proposed MoT cuts in the number of hours lorry drivers can spend at the wheel—nine on any day and 60 in a week—are likely to lead to a higher accident rate. The group are members of North Staffs TRTA branch which is suggesting maximums of 10 hours and 66 respectively.
The branch says the Ministry's "drastic cuts" would encourage firms to introduce much tighter schedules which could lead to much faster driving.
THREAT TO CONSUMER PRICES
HIGHER consumer prices resulting from higher industrial costs would almost certainly follow the introduction of the proposed new vehicle licensing regulations, the British Road Federation warned this week in a memorandum to the Minister of Transport.
BRF's other views on the proposals were reported in CM on August 11.