(22/10/2009)

Driver Fatigue Caused One in Five Accidents Last Year

A recent report by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has revealed that driver fatigue was responsible for one in five road traffic accidents in Britain last year.

The report, part of the Department of Transport’s review of Domestic Drivers’ Hours Rules, claimed that many bus, coach and van drivers took less breaks than office workers due to out-of-date rules governing their working hours.

Around one in four bus and van drivers work over 48 hours a week, despite the obvious road safety risks posed by driver tiredness. Many van drivers also have no minimum entitlement to breaks.

The rules regarding working hours for many professional drivers were set by the 1968 Transport Act, over forty years ago. The working hours of staff in shops, offices and factories are protected by the 1998 Working Time Regulations.

The TUC’s report recommends that the drivers of buses and coaches, and other heavy vehicles that require a specialised operator’s licence, should be protected under the 2005 Road Transport Working Time Regulations, which currently protects HGV drivers.

TUC General Secretary Brenden Barber said: “Long hours working can damage the health of any workers but the risks for drivers are particularly serious.

"By protecting drivers from excessive hours and allowing them more breaks, the Government can improve the health of drivers and help to prevent road accidents.”

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