DANGEROUS and potentially unlawful plans to impose a fresh extension of lorry drivers’ hours must be dropped, Unite says.

The union understands that the government is undertaking a “technical consultation” on continuing to allow drivers to work shifts of up to 11 hours rather than 10 and up to 99 hours a fortnight rather than 90.

Unite has voiced concern that the extended driving hours, brought in to tackle the shortage of lorry drivers, is having a cumulative effect on driver fatigue.

Current regulations allow for temporary relaxation of hours, but Unite argues that they have been loosened for 10 of the last 18 months and that long-term fatigue is a major factor in an exodus from the industry it estimates at 600 drivers a week.

It is now consulting lawyers on whether a rolling renewal of extended hours effectively amounts to a permanent change.

Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “Lorry drivers are already working excessive hours and the cumulative effect on fatigue will increase the risk of accidents and damage their health.
 
“Rather than short-term fixes to the driver shortage, the government needs to implement long-term solutions.
 
“Action also needs to be taken to introduce minimum standards on pay and conditions, to end once and for all the race to the bottom and undercutting of wages which is at the heart of the current lorry driver shortages.”

A government spokesperson said: “We recognise business are facing a range of challenges and we are taking steps to support them, including streamlining the process for new HGV drivers and increasing the number of driving tests.

“Progress has already being made in testing and hiring, with improving pay, working conditions and diversity.

“Through our Plan for Jobs we’re helping people across the UK retrain, build new skills and get back into work.”