Bus companies have genuine problems with this.
If the journey exceeds 50km, not only is the driver subject to time
off in a way that would not otherwise apply, but the bus has to be
fitted with a tachograph. This is not an issue for companies that only
do long runs, or those who never exceed the limit.
The problem is where a company only has a few routes which exceed the
limit. Also, some companies have routes where only a few journeys
exceed the limit (due to route variations or predominantly short
workings), or even where, due to one way systems, the journey exceeds
the limit in one direction but not in the other. Also, the route might
be worked in such a way that all buses on it do a long journey sooner
or later, even though there are only a very few through journeys.
One option is to fit tachographs to all buses and treat all drivers as
if they work long journeys even if they don't, but that is a waste of
money.
The other option is to dedicate particular drivers and buses to
particular journeys. It is often not practicable to run a bus service
like that, and so many companies are addressing the regulations by
altering their services so that the rules do not apply at all. It is
that which is causing the apparantly absurd practices. |