Roads may not get gritted because drivers are 'too tired'

Jan 7 2009 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUNDREDS of vital vehicles could be forced off the road, a top union official has warned.

Paul Holmes is worried that tired drivers are gritting the roads around Huddersfield.

The Kirklees Unison branch secretary said: “We know that many of the private contractors use drivers who also drive during the day in other jobs.

"Gritting in dark and icy conditions is dangerous enough without doing it after you have already exceeded your legally permitted hours.”

Mr Holmes added that the council could be in trouble if any driver is working more than the European Union limit of 48 hours a week.

He said: “If Kirklees doesn’t ensure that both its own drivers – and private contractors on council routes – follow the law, then the council could lose its operator’s licence.

"If this happened Kirklees would be unable to operate its fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles, including bin wagons, mobile libraries and tractors.”