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Recovery rules tighten

9th December 1993
Page 8
Page 8, 9th December 1993 — Recovery rules tighten
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by David Harris • Hundreds of vehicle recovery firms face new restrictions on driving hours following allegations that some drivers are spending a dangerously long time at the wheel.

Roads Minister Robert Key is calling on the industry to come up with its own suggestions for new regulations.

Recovery contractors, including the 1,200 employed by the RAC, have traditionally been exempt from hours restrictions because part of their role is an emergency service. It is not yet clear if any new regulations would be enshrined in law or would be included in a voluntary code of practice.

The recovery sector generally accepts the principle of hours restrictions, but argues that media attention on drivers staying at the wheel too long has focused on isolated examples.

Barry Cowing, director of the Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators (AVRO), says: "The problem is what would happen if one of our members was called to an emergency, for example to remove a vehicle carrying hazardous material from a ditch, and had to turn the job down because hours had overrun. We need some flexibility because our members are operating an emergency service."

Tom Atkinson, contractor services manager with the RAC, agrees: "You must also put the prcrblem into perspective. We have had two recorded incidents of drivers falling asleep at the wheel in a year.

"One had taken medication for a cold, the other had driven excessively—but these two cases were our only examples in 21 million miles of


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