Passenger and Goods Vehicle Drivers (Hours of Work) (Hansard, 12 July 1967)

§ 46. Mr. Park
asked the Minister of Transport what further action she will take to make more effective the enforcement of regulations on drivers' hours and conditions; and when she proposes to introduce her legislation on the matter.
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§ Mrs. Castle
The proposals for revision of the law on this subject which I announced on 7th June contain several new measures designed to improve enforcement. They include proposals for the introduction of mechanical recorders in vehicle cabs, a new log book for drivers and wider powers for my enforcement staff to examine relevant documents. I hope to introduce legislation to give effect to these proposals next Session.

§ Mr. Leslie Huckfield
asked the Minister of Transport if she will give the numbers of convictions for offences relating to drivers' hours in road passenger transport, and road freight transport, respectively, in the last five years; and if she will further subdivide these figures into those convicted of keeping no records, and keeping false records, respectively.

§ Mr. Swingler
Following is the information:

Numbers of Convictions

Record Offences^* Hours Offences

Year Goods Passenger† Goods Passenger

1965–66 … 13,287 — 5,225 20

1964–65 … 11,168 — 5,990 25

1963–64 … 9,494 — 4,532 41

1962–63 … 8,505 — 3,953 42

1961–62 … 10,363 — 4,468 56

^* Including keeping no records and keeping false records. Separate figures for these items are not readily available.

† Records of hours of driving are not required to be kept in respect of passenger vehicles.

§ Mr. Leslie Huckfield
asked the Minister of Transport whether she will introduce the necessary changes to the Road Traffic Acts so that under her Department's new regulations, covering a driver's hours in road transport, 11 hours for rest will become 11 hours of rest.

§ Mr. Swingler
We propose to make it harder for the reckless minority of drivers to evade the law by taking additional jobs driving lorries or buses during their rest periods, but there are limits to what legislation can achieve. The use an individual makes of his statutory rest period must ultimately be a matter for his own judgment and sense of responsibility.

	Numbers of Convictions
	Record Offences^*	Hours Offences
Year		Goods	Passenger†	Goods	Passenger
1965–66	…	13,287	—	5,225	20
1964–65	…	11,168	—	5,990	25
1963–64	…	9,494	—	4,532	41
1962–63	…	8,505	—	3,953	42
1961–62	…	10,363	—	4,468	56
^* Including keeping no records and keeping false records. Separate figures for these items are not readily available.
† Records of hours of driving are not required to be kept in respect of passenger vehicles.