Dangerous driving

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Fatigue kills is the stark message of two union campaigns. In the run up to transport workers’ inclusion in the Working Time Regulations, the Transport and General Workers Union is campaigning for a 48 hour maximum working week without a cut in current pay levels. This is based on the knowledge that low pay in the industry is a major factor behind the extremely long hours worked by drivers, especially lorry drivers, with 60 hours a week normal and 80 hours not uncommon. Incentive bonus schemes are often based on the number of miles driven or on the number of trips. Similarly last year ASLEF launched "Drive down the Hours" aiming, by law, to bring down train drivers hours to a maximum of 42 hours in any week and an average of 35 hours over the course of a year, with appropriate breaks. Train drivers can do 16 hours in a shift and 60 hours in a week.

The European Road Transport Directive will introduce a maximum working week of 48 hours including overtime, a maximum of eight hours night work, a daily rest period of 11 hours, a day off per week, a rest break if working more than six hours, and four weeks paid annual leave in 2005. The TGWU want tougher regulations including a maximum 10 hours duty time with 8 hours behind the wheel for drivers.

Nearly 3,500 people are killed every year on Britain's roads. Another 40,000 are seriously injured and 280,000 slightly hurt. It is officially recognised that driver fatigue is a cause of death. The government campaign THINK launched last year highlights that falling asleep at the wheel could be a factor in one in ten road accidents. In 2001 the Work-related Road Safety Task Group reported to government and the Health and Safety Commission and said up to a third of all road traffic accidents could involve someone at work, which could mean 1,000 people killed each year because of someone driving for work. And although we have a better record than most of Europe, and road deaths have dropped substantially from the mid 1980s onwards, we are one of the worst in Europe regarding the death rate for children killed on the roads. In fact, child pedestrian deaths increased 14% in 2001.

One of the key priorities of the Association of London Government’s Transport and Environment policy is to try to substantially reduce the numbers killed and seriously injured on the roads. This ties in with the Mayor of London’s transport strategy which aims to increase the capacity of the Underground, rail and bus systems by up to 40% over the next 10 years with a view to easing congestion by promoting greater use of public transport. This will assist all drivers because traffic hold ups are another factor putting pressure on drivers to work longer hours and ignore rules on rest breaks.

Safety reps across a whole range of industrial sectors can play a big part in promoting road safety and reducing deaths on the roads. Many workers drive at some time in connection with their work. Safety representatives can ensure employers carry out thorough risk assessments that cover issues such as suitable schedules with adequate rest breaks, the safety and maintenance of vehicles, avoidance of unnecessary travel or types of travel, avoidance of night travel.

The London Hazards Centre factsheet on work-related road safety gives more information on what safety representatives can do, and employer duties under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.

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