§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has carried out in the last five years into the relationship between the HGV accident rate and the number of hours driven immediately before an accident.
§ Mr. NorrisMy Department has commissioned research from the Transport Research Laboratory on sleep and driving. A composite report covering the accident involvement of heavy goods vehicle drivers in relation to sleep, together with sleepiness among male car drivers, is expected to be published by late May.
§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce the limit on the maximum length of working day permitted for HGV drivers.
§ Mr. NorrisEuropean Community regulations set limits on HGV driving time and minimum requirements for daily and weekly rest periods which effectively limit the length of the driver's working day. Currently, we do not anticipate further changes.