Crackdown urged over dangerous driving
The GMB general union has called for an immediate zero tolerance crackdown on dangerous driving. The call came after new figures, released by refuse company Biffa, showed that workers report a massive 1,000 incidents of dangerous or reckless driving every day.
The union says that at least 12 workers have been killed as a result of dangerous driving over the last two years, and that refuse workers are among those with jobs on the public highway who are being put at risk.
There have been increasing demands from road safety campaigners for harsher penalties for dangerous driving — particularly for drivers who kill while using their mobile phones — in the wake of a number of fatal collisions involving lorry drivers.
In December last year, the government announced plans to introduce life sentences for drivers who cause deaths through dangerous driving.
But while supporting a review of driving offences, the Hazards campaign has pointed out that between a third and a half of road traffic fatalities are estimated to be work-related and that the role of employers and work practices should also be considered.
Meanwhile, construction union UCATT has condemned “nonsensical and dangerous” government plans to relax the 50mph speed limit on motorway roadworks. The plans would allow motorists to drive at speeds of up to 60mph. UCATT says they would make an already dangerous working area twice as dangerous.
www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/newsroom/gmb-calls-for-dangerous-driving-crackdown.html