Driving limits would 'devastate' haulage industry

The proposal, put forward by the European Parliament, would force the UK Government to extend a mandatory 48-hour week to cover self-employed drivers.

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, said the move would also impact heavily on the agricultural sector which relies on ‘thousands of one-man businesses’ to drive animals, feed and fertilizer around the country.

“There is not a shred of evidence to suggest that limiting working hours improves road safety. It will add another layer of bureaucracy and additional cost to the road haulage industry which is all ready overburdened by regulation, excessive fuel costs and the effects of the recession,” he said.  

“It is my fear that these proposals set us on a very slippery slope towards working time legislation for all self-employed workers,” he added.  

Mr Lyon has written to the European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas urging him to ditch the Parliament’s proposals.

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