Following October’s government announcement that HGV drivers are to be fined by DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) if they take their full weekly rest break in their cabs from 1 November, 2017, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) is calling for evidence from drivers to help highlight the inconsistency in the standards of rest facilities available across the UK.

FTA is campaigning for urgent action to provide more secure, safe and good-quality rest areas close to major routes for HGV drivers, to prevent them being forced to take their mandated rest in their cabs. FTA is asking for photographs of the facilities encountered by drivers to be sent to the Association’s @newsfromfta Twitter account with the hashtag #ftarest.

Malcolm Bingham, Head of Road Network Policy at FTA said, “We fully support the need for drivers to step away from their cabs to take their rest breaks, but without a consistent, widespread network of safe and secure rest stops nationwide, drivers will still opt to take rest in their cabs particularly when their fully fitted cab offers a better standard than some accessible amenities.”

FTA is calling on government to use common sense in applying the new £300 fine system to accommodate the fact that in parts of the country, facilities for drivers are substandard, or simply not available.