Bus and Van Drivers Putting in Too Many Hours
Bus and Van Drivers Putting in Too Many Hours
According to the TUC, the laws that regulate the working hours of coach, van and bus drivers, are so outdated that a lot of drivers have less break time than people who work in an office. In the TUC’s submission to the Department of Transport, TUC stated that the long hours that drivers log is the reason that drivers fall victim to driver’s fatigue. This in turn has been said to be a contributing factor in one out of five vehicle accidents.
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Additionally, all of the excessive work that is performed by drivers can results in stress, backache, and an increased risk for heart disease and mental illness as well, according to the TUC.
In spite of the driving risk and the health dangers that come with driving for long periods of time, 25% of the bus drivers work more than 49 and one-half hours per week, and 25% of van drivers work in excess of 48 hours per week.
The laws that regulate the driving time for coaches ,buses, and vans as well as other larger vehicles were established in the 1968 Transport Act. The TUC submission makes the case that these laws are now more than three decades old; so old that drivers of these types of vehicles get less protection for working long hours than workers in factories, offices, and people who work in shops. The 1998 Working Time regulations offer protection for people who work the previously mentioned jobs.
The TUC stated that the laws need to be brought up-to-date, so that drivers will have the privilege of proper breaks and be protected against having to work too many hours.
Article By alex
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