6 killed on M25

[CaptainColourful]

I can't see the original thread in which driving hours for recovery vehicles were discussed, but surely this accident proves the point ?

A recovery truck slamming into the back of a lorry while carrying a broken down minibus and it's occupants sounds impossible, but a tired driver is the only possible explanation.

Surely the laws on drivers hours should take recovery vehicles into account too, they should not be exempt.
As a trucker myself, I know how easy it is to fall asleep at the wheel by not taking the statutory breaks.
These recovery guys drive 100's of miles to relay a broken down vehicle home.
Stop it now I say before even more people get killed.  

Will the recovery firm involved be charged with culpable homicide ? I bet they would in the U.S.

[thermidorthelobster]

Be a bit careful with this;  it's not out of the question that it could have been a heart attack, or even a mechanical failure, or another explanation.  I see where you're coming from and I don't disagree with your sentiments, but there are other possibilities.

[gtomo2]

I mustv admit when i first heard about this crash i thought a truck had crashed into the recovery wagon. thinking to myself another tired driver probley being pushed to hard by his boss. didnt know thet the recovery wagon hit the truck. If it was down to driver furteage? why didnt the passengers in the recovery truck say something and got him to stop. if it was something out of there control then the question has to be asked why are recovery trucks exempt mot tests. Still at the end of the day still feel sorry for the familys of all those involved.

[CaptainColourful]

Yes I agree, my sympathy goes to all who have been hurt by this accident.

 But the question remains... why are these vehicles exempt from all normal regulations ?
 I know from personal experience how long these guys are on the road and firmly believe that they shouldn't be doing the long hours and mileage that they are expected to do.
Road safety has to come before any profits.

[landy4x4xfar]

just watched it on sky news

they say on the TV that the recovery truck was hit by the HGV but the pictures show the recovery truck behind the HGV (looks like a container) and if six died and one injured in the recovery truck than surely the recovery truck hit the container so why cant sky news get it right
 even there own web site has a picture of the cab of the recovery truck

[discojames]

if it was something out of there control then the question has to be asked why are recovery trucks exempt mot tests.

As far as I am aware, they aren't.  Ours (The AA) go for plating every year.

With regards to tacho rules, we are no longer exempt unless you stay within 100km of your base and drive a specialist recovery vehicle.  The previous exemption ended on 11th April!

James
AA Recovery driver

[Manicminer]

When I saw the news this morning it looked like the recovery vehicle had driven into the back of the lorry.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/6631375.stm

[BrumLee]

Very similar accident happened over 10 years ago on the M6(S) close to Corley Services, between Coventry and Birmingham.

That too happened on a Bank Holiday Monday, it also involved a LGV and a Transit being towed by a recovery truck. Was a reversal of lastnight's accident as the LGV ploughed into the back of the vehicle being recovered before flipping on its side and come to a halt across the northbound carriageway. A further two vehicles (taxi and LGV) then hit the underside of the unit and trailer. There were seven fatalities in total. It was claimed that the truck had been seen wandering across lanes for several miles and that the driver was asleep at the time of impact.

I had to go out and inspect one of the vehicles to see if it was safe to recover. The carnage there was not a pretty sight    

[sleeplessparadise]

Will the recovery firm involved be charged with culpable homicide ? I bet they would in the U.S.

I can tell you from experience that the driver may be charged but not the firm....... the firm always gets away with it

[graham78]

just to let you know that as of the 11 or 12 or april all recovery vehicles that operate outside of 100 km of their home base need to be tacho'd
i found this out from a very very nice man!!!!

[CaptainColourful]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6632849.stm


"They had been returning from a stag event in Leicestershire.

Surrey Police said one of the occupants called the AA after the minibus broke down at Junction 18 on the M1."

I still wonder how long the recovery driver had been working, J18 to of the M1 to Brighton is still a long way.

I stand corrected about the tacho.. a recent and welcome change, but would the hours previously worked within the 100kms limit be excluded from the booked tacho hours ??

[discojames]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6632849.stm

I stand corrected about the tacho.. a recent and welcome change, but would the hours previously worked within the 100kms limit be excluded from the booked tacho hours ??

As I understand it, no they wouldn't, you are supposed to make a manual entry on the back of the tacho, and stick to ALL driver's hours regs.  In reality, not sure how many would do this, unless something goes wrong, the chances of being caught are quite slim.

I now have to use a tacho every day I am working, even if I do not go 100km from my base, as the AA have taken the decision not to use the 100km exemption.

James