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'Laws strong enough' after deaths | 'Laws strong enough' after deaths |
(about 10 hours later) | |
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. | 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 Anwyl said while EU laws on driver hours were sufficient as long as they were adhered to, there were difficulties enforcing them. | |
But the UK member of a European traffic police forum 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 and their four children were killed last October. | David and Michelle Statham and their four children were killed last October. |
Lorry driver Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva, 46, was jailed for three years on Monday at Chester Crown Court. | Lorry driver Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva, 46, was jailed for three years on Monday at Chester Crown Court. |
He was cleared of dangerous driving but convicted of six counts of causing death by careless driving on the M6 in Cheshire. | 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, were travelling back to Llandudno, Conwy 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. | 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. |
The Statham family were killed in October in a crash on the M6 | The Statham family were killed in October in a crash on the M6 |
Ch Supt Anwyl 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 Anwyl 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. | 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. " | "It is about a dreadful crash that wiped out a generation of one family and was due to one driver's gross inattention. " |