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German truck driver's death probably due to tiredness'
Page 7
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AN OXFORDSHIRE coroner has concluded that an accident in which a German truck driver died was likely to have been the result of the driver's tiredness.
Michael Pokriefke was killed when he drove into the back of a truck on the M40 at 1.52am on Wednesday 27 February.
He had been driving for 34 days without a break, including one 24-hour period in which he was at the wheel for 21 hours 18 minutes. That included one spell of seven hours' driving without a break.
After Pokriefke's inquest, police issued a warning to truck drivers about breaking drivers' hours rules and driving when tired.
Forensic collision investigator for the case, Police Constable Terry Anderson says: "The driver's 52 previous tacho charts were examined by Vosa. The charts covered a period of 34 days, there were 230 infringements detected involving every single chart.
"The offences ranged from failure to complete the centrefield of the chart to excessive daily, weekly and fortnightly driving hours and insufficient breaks."
Pokriefke's truck collided with the back of a Polish I IG V that had broken down on the hard shoulder of the M40 between Junctions 6 and 7. The two occupants of the Polish truck were unhurt, Sergeant Jack Hawkins, who led the investigation, says: "This case highlights that some lorry drivers are prepared to show a total disregard for the drivers' hours regulations that are intended to prevent this kind of incident.
"I would urge all drivers to make sure they're aware of the laws."