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'Laws strong enough' after deaths 'Laws strong enough' after deaths
(about 1 hour later)
A police officer has defended road laws after a Portuguese lorry driver was jailed for causing the deaths of a family of six by careless driving. A police officer has defended road laws after a Portuguese lorry driver was jailed for causing the deaths on the M6 of a family by careless driving.
Ch Supt Geraint Annwyl said while EU laws on driver hours were sufficient as long as they were adhered to, there were difficulties enforcing them.Ch Supt Geraint Annwyl said while EU laws on driver hours were sufficient as long as they were adhered to, there were difficulties enforcing them.
But he said tiredness was a problem with long-distance drivers. But the UK member of a European traffic police forum said tiredness was a problem with long-distance drivers.
David and Michelle Statham, from Llandudno and their four children were killed when a lorry hit their car. David and Michelle Statham and their four children were killed last October.
Driver Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva was jailed for three years on Monday. Lorry driver Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva, 46, was jailed for three years on Monday at Chester Crown Court.
Da Silva, 46, was convicted of six counts of causing death by careless driving on the M6 in Cheshire last October. He was cleared of dangerous driving but convicted of six counts of causing death by careless driving on the M6 in Cheshire.
Mr Statham, 38, and his wife, 33, who were originally from Sutton Coldfield, were travelling back to Wales from Birmingham with children Reece, 13, Jay, nine, Mason, 20 months and 10-week-old Ellouise. Mr Statham, 38, and his wife, 33, were travelling back to Llandudno, Conwy from Birmingham with children Reece, 13, Jay, nine, Mason, 20 months and 10-week-old Ellouise.
Their silver people carrier burst into flames after it was involved in a five-vehicle pile-up between junctions 16 and 17 of the motorway.Their silver people carrier burst into flames after it was involved in a five-vehicle pile-up between junctions 16 and 17 of the motorway.
The prosecution claimed Da Silva was using a global positioning system on his laptop computer to work out an alternative route at the time of the crash.The prosecution claimed Da Silva was using a global positioning system on his laptop computer to work out an alternative route at the time of the crash.
Da Silva denied using the computer while he was driving, but police found it by the driver's seat with the screen turned to face the driver. These people are driving very long distances, often alone in the cabs and they can quite often be distracted Ch Supt Geraint AnnwylDa Silva denied using the computer while he was driving, but police found it by the driver's seat with the screen turned to face the driver. These people are driving very long distances, often alone in the cabs and they can quite often be distracted Ch Supt Geraint Annwyl
Ch Supt Annwyl represents the UK on the European Traffic Police Network, a forum which aims to reduce road crash casualties across Europe. Ch Supt Annwyl represents the UK on the European traffic police network, a forum which aims to reduce road crash casualties across Europe.
He said officers needed to make best use of intelligence to target the companies and individuals who were known to be flouting road laws.He said officers needed to make best use of intelligence to target the companies and individuals who were known to be flouting road laws.
"I think the law as it stands, if it is adhered to, is sufficient," he said."I think the law as it stands, if it is adhered to, is sufficient," he said.
"The problem is enforcing and ensuring these people adhere to the laws relating to driver hours."The problem is enforcing and ensuring these people adhere to the laws relating to driver hours.
"It is a matter of enforcement and education.""It is a matter of enforcement and education."
Ch Supt Annwyl said most problems involved vehicles on international journeys and that foreign drivers had a significantly higher offending rate than those based in the UK.Ch Supt Annwyl said most problems involved vehicles on international journeys and that foreign drivers had a significantly higher offending rate than those based in the UK.
Economic pressures were driving firms and individuals into pushing themselves, he added.Economic pressures were driving firms and individuals into pushing themselves, he added.
"Fatigue is an issue," he said."Fatigue is an issue," he said.
"These people are driving very long distances, often alone in the cabs and they can quite often be distracted."These people are driving very long distances, often alone in the cabs and they can quite often be distracted.
"They need to get to the point of the delivery, complete the task and get back either home or the depot for the next lot to be taken."They need to get to the point of the delivery, complete the task and get back either home or the depot for the next lot to be taken.
"It is a huge responsibility on them to keep themselves alert and make sure their vehicles are in good order. They are professional drivers at the end of the day.""It is a huge responsibility on them to keep themselves alert and make sure their vehicles are in good order. They are professional drivers at the end of the day."
After the verdicts, Supt Guy Hindle, from Cheshire Police, said: "This tragedy is not about foreign lorry drivers on British roads.
"It is about a dreadful crash that wiped out a generation of one family and was due to one driver's gross inattention. "