Death on the Roads The employers in the motor vehicles
trade,supported by the men's trade union, are making an attempt to extend the hours of continuous duty on the roads which may be permitted under the law. The Industrial Court sat in private last Tuesday to consider the application which they have made to the Minister of Transport. In view of the fact that the drivers have come to an agreement with the owners, there is some danger that the general public's case may go by default. That the.public has the strongest reason for insisting on a voice in the matter is shown by the fact that out of 6,499 fatal accidents in 1981 no fewer than 2,135 were due to commercial road vehicles. The framers of the Road Traffic Act were alive to the dangers to life and limb arising from the handling of heavy motors by men suffering from overstrain ; and it was laid down that no man must drive for a continuous period of more than 51 hours or for longer than 11 hours in 24. But already amending departmental orders have increased the continuous period to no less than 81 hours, and have reduced the minimum continuous rest period of 10 hours to 8 hours. Now it is asked that 9 hours' continuous driving should be permitted, and rest periods on some days of no more than 7 hours. Lorry drivers may be willing to undertake these prolonged and fatiguing duties for the sake of high pay, but to allow them to do so involves an almost certain increase in the destruction of life.
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