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'Bad day for industry' after Europe passes hours rules
Page 4
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• by Emma Penny As Commercial Motor went to press, European Parliament officials voted to adopt controversial and unworkable proposals on drivers' hours which would cut driving time by 20%.
Key issues in the proposals-drawn up by MEP Helmuth Markov-are changes to daily and weekly rest periods (see panel).
The European Parliament's approval of the proposals means the haulage industry has a fight on its hands, warns the Freight Transport Association's man in Brussels, Damian Viccars. "It's a bad day for British industry," he says, adding that the proposals will cut driving time to 80% of current allowances.
"The problem is that now these have been accepted, they have become the formal opinion f the European arliament."
That means the proosais will be put before he Council of Ministers, ncreasing the risk of hem being accepted in heir current farm.
However, that may ot happen for 18 months, when the Dutch—who are reputed o have a stronger interest in this than some other countries—take over the presidency.
The proposals will "significantly hinder" transport operaors' ability to operate in a costeffective manner, forcing them o adopt "irrational and inefficient' working practices, warns he International Road Transport Union (IRU).
And FTA campaigns manager Chris Welch says that the proposals would mean an end to Saturday working.
"We've agreed under Working Time Directive legislation that midnight on Sunday will be the start of the working week.
"Under Markov's proposals, there would be no flexibility for Saturday deliveries; companies would have to employ additional staff. The proposals are just incompatible with WTD legislation."
But Viccars says the FTA will continue fighting against the proposals.
"We think it's pretty irresponsible to tamper with economies in this way—and it would be crazy for the European institutions not to listen to industry. We will be working closely with MEPs who realise the ludicrous nature of these proposals, and we're determined to nip them in the bud as soon as we can."