Digital Tacho's

Briron · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 20:40

Hi,
I have just received my first Digital tachograph analysis and along with the rest of the drivers was appalled at the results. Unless the law has changed very recently there is something terribly wrong.
Many of us take our breaks split which has always been allowed, IE 3X 15min or a 15 and a 30 or a 20 and 25, as long as we've taken 45minutes within the 4.1/2 hrs driving period. BUT all the breaks taken in this way have been shown as infringements.
Also these tachographs show 91kph as an over-speed, as far as I know the speed limit on a motorway is still 60mph (100kph =62mph). I know the speed limiters have to be set at 56mph, but as any trucker will tell you it's very easy to override going downhill with a bit of weight on.
Am I missing something :?:

I would appreciate it very much if someone out there can enlighten me. Thanks Briron

Sixy_the_red · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2005 08:22 **Posts:** 2618

Howdy Briron.

Head over to the forum at www.truckersworld.co.uk/phpBB2 and have a read. There's loads of info on digi's there.

:welcome:

Briron · **Posted:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 21:29

Thanks for that sixy_the_red,
I'll take a look at that site. :roll:

Briron

Dratsabasti · **Posted:** Sat Jan 27, 2007 21:15

I have 2 other issues with digitachs.

1. Move your wheels 1 revolution, and the digitach takes something like 2-3 minutes off your available driving time.

2. With the paper tacho, you have a daily speed trace, with the digitach, you DON'T. Unless you are pulled by VOSA, or are back in your office within 24 hrs and then have use of a managers card.

So, you recieve a NIP, you can't even check to see if you were even moving, never mind speeding.
A recent case in Scotland, a driver was told that a tacho was not a legal document, so couldn't be presented in his defence, yet VOSA can march into the office, check his tacho's for the last 6 months and do him for speeding, yet it is not a legal document.

Two recent cases involving the A420 between Oxford and Swindon, where drivers defeated speeding allegations with the use of a tacho, and in one case also sat tracking.

I feel that,

1, The digitach has been brought in too quickly and with a built in bias aganst the driver.

2, The digitach should have been brought in by piggybacking it alongside the already well tested and proven paper tacho.

scanny77 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 27, 2007 22:30

i have always been against the digital tacho. it is an unnecessary expense. paper tachos did the job so why make us pay £38 for something we can drive just as well without?

unfortunately, a lot of companies are changing to them so i am forced to get one or give up work. not happy

Littlegoozle · **Posted:** Sun Jan 28, 2007 00:51

Briron wrote:

Many of us take our breaks split which has always been allowed, IE 3X 15min or a 15 and a 30 or a 20 and 25, as long as we've taken 45minutes within the 4.1/2 hrs driving period. BUT all the breaks taken in this way have been shown as infringements.

I suppose you are aware that the new digital tacho automatically defaults back to work mode? You do need to manually switch it to break, you cannot leave it on rest all day like some drivers are used to doing. Why not use the built in menu screen to make sure it registers a break before you move off, this should avoid any future infringements.

This new technology doesn't seem to be too popular at first glance but I've just done an introduction training course on them and I have to say they seem to be very user friendly and incorporates some useful information for the driver.

Also, be aware of the changes to the driving regulations on the split breaks, amongst others, which take effect on the 11th April 2007.

Briron · **Posted:** Tue Jan 30, 2007 21:02

Thanks all, for some very interesting comments. all taken on board!
But still have some mixed feelings about ' digis'

scanny77 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 18:56

this is a link to the discussion on the new rules effective 11 april 2007.
http://www.truckersworld.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... sc&start=0

i got a file by email. i dont have access to the actual online file (not an fta member) but i will find one and post the link

scanny77 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 20:02

scanny77 wrote:

this is a link to the discussion on the new rules effective 11 april 2007.
http://www.truckersworld.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... sc&start=0

i got a file by email. i dont have access to the actual online file (not an fta member) but i will find one and post the link

this isnt the exact file i wanted but i cant find anything on the dft site. this one does clearly inform you of the changes in april though
http://www.fta.co.uk/information/otheri ... lation.doc

Briron · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 22:24

this isnt the exact file i wanted but i cant find anything on the dft site. this one does clearly inform you of the changes in april though
http://www.fta.co.uk/information/otheri ... lation.doc
_________________
Thanks richie. every bit of info that is available is helpful

scanny77 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:20

you might be interested in this one too. its drivers hours regs. its the basic stuff for this line of work but it doesnt hurt to refresh your memory (or in my case, have it printed and slotted into loose leaf files in a folder in my car :oops:

) just in case you need it :wink:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/road/ ... aphrul3239

by the way, its the updated dec 2006 version. you wont find anything much more recent than that and it incorporates the changes in april too. give me a shout if you need anything else. i find, print and read all this stuff as a hobby :oops:

Briron · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 17:01

Thanks again for the link Richie, very useful.
Brian

scanny77 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 09, 2007 19:09

a warning for the roadside checks

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