Acknowledgement in the news story about IRU’s call for hours flexibility [routeone/News/7 March] that drivers and operators are in it together is crucial. They both get it right or they both get it wrong.
Tachographs and drivers’ hours spawned a whole industry plus enforcement and litigation.
Thousands are employed on, in and around the issue of tired drivers and road safety.
The problem is that tachographs only measure time periods, not tiredness or fitness to drive. They impose deadlines that increase stress and may lead to poor driving in order to 'stay legal'.
Is there a better way? Who knows, but improvements in wages and conditions would be a start.
Even hanging about waiting for people is tiring and body clocks do not understand 15- or 21-hour spread-overs.
After an eight-hour shift, people go home and do something else. After 10 hours of driving and maximum spread-over, the main attraction is bed.
Trevor Coltman, Thirsk
