Foreign truck drivers clogging up UK lay-bys to dodge hefty EU ’rest fines’
FOREIGN truck drivers, especially those from eastern Europe, are clogging up British lay-bys in a bid to dodge strict rest fines which force motorists to take long breaks.
Tough driving rules for Brits in EU countries
Under European Union rules, lorry drivers must take a break of an average of 45 hours each week.
And both France and Belgium banned drivers from taking their rest stops in the cabs of their vehicles, forcing drivers to get out once in a while.
Lorry drivers must take a weekly break of an average of 45 hours
Truckers who flout the rules can be hit with whopping fines of £1,500 for each offence, while in France the haulage company they work for will be hit with a hefty £26,000 bill,
But it seems lorry drivers have found a crafty way around the rule - and are parking up in British lay-bys instead.
France and Belgium banned drivers from taking their rest stops in the cabs
Lorries park up at UK laybys for days at a time
So drivers are increasingly found to be camping out in their cabs at rest spots near the Channel ports in southern England for up two consecutive nights.
The UK has no such ban on drivers - which the Road Haulage Association (RHA) says encourage foreign workers to spend their 45 hour rest break in the UK’s lay-bys.
Jack Semple, policy director, said: “What is happening is that particularly eastern European drivers are effectively camping across western Europe, including in the UK, and taking their long rest break in the cab.”
Lorry drivers do not face similar bans in Britain
What is happening is that particularly eastern European drivers are effectively camping across western Europe, including in the UK, and taking their long rest break in the cab
And he suggested drivers found napping inside their vehicle should be fined at least £300.
It is thought strict rules in France and Belgium were launched amid fears poorly paid truckers were living in their lorries for months at a time, sleeping in the cab while taking jobs from local drivers and causing mammoth parking problems across the continent.
And while the rules seem to be working for those countries, it is having a negative impact on the UK.
Annika Hawthorn runs a cafe on the A2, where she says at least four lorries park up each weekend for days at a time.
Drivers are often seen urinating in the hedgerow, and some even carry portable stoves so they can cook themselves hearty meals while on the road.
Now Paul Carter, leader of Kent County Council, has called for the government to build a series of lorry parks to stop the disruption to UK motorists and businesses.
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It was suggested drivers found napping inside their vehicle be fined at least £300
Claiming the parking situation is only getting worse, he said: “We have tried to put up bollards in certain lanes where all sorts of stuff goes on.
“You get prostitutes operating out of white vans and all sorts of things going on.”
The Depertment for Transport confirmed it was “consulting” on the issue, adding it would keep its approach “under review”.