I Do Not Have The Link

[TWR]

but the family that got killed on the A34 yesterday was very bad, it was stated, a HGV Driver fell asleep! I know this road well, how the hell did this driver fall asleep on such a busy Deal Carriageway beats me.

[naomi24]

It's not uncommon for people to fall asleep when driving.

[anotheoldgit]

It gets worse, the father saw it happen.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dad-watched-horror-car-behind-8609930

/// A 30-year-old man - who is yet to be identified - has since been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and bailed by police ///

Does yet say anything about him falling to sleep.

[andy-hughes]

If that is indeed the case, it is perfectly possible to fall asleep while driving - it is a frequent cause of accidents, often fatal.

[ummmm]

I can imagine how easy it is to fall asleep at the wheel. Driving on long stretches of road makes my eyes sleepy if I'm on my own in the car.

[Gromit]

Be interesting to see the tacograph evidence, and his alcohol level.

[jackthehat]

A dreadful thing to have happened.
HGV drivers *must* realise that they need to stick to 'Driver's Rules' rather than try to find ways around them.
Mandatory rest/sleep breaks and health-checks are there for a reason.

[-Talbot-]

HGV drivers just like other drivers get up to all manner of stupid things.

[andy-hughes]

I am sure that part of the problem is scheduling combined with increasing traffic issues.

This puts pressure on drivers to drive past their safety breaks and rest times.

Never an excuse, but definitely a reason.

[ToraToraTora]

pound to a penny it's a foriegn driver with no taco running without sleep.

[andy-hughes]

TTT - //pound to a penny it's a foriegn driver with no taco running without sleep. //

I understood that all lorries on UK roads had to have tacos fitted - but I know nothing about it - ?

[TWR]

All HGV's Andy whether from the UK or abroad. 4hrs 29mins, the Driver has to have a 45 min break.

[Baldric]

I wonder if it involved the drivers use of a Bar-Magnet,

[andy-hughes]

Thanks TWR.

[TWR]

There is a lot of truth in what you say there Baldric,many others are in use also.

[ToraToraTora]

"I understood that all lorries on UK roads had to have tacos fitted - but I know nothing about it - ? " - they are the rules Andy but, as we know, not all the rules are obeyed or even enforced. Trucks from the the old Eastern bloc are mostly not even road legal, how much attention do you think they'll pay to driver rules?

[pastafreak]

Where does it say that *this* driver fell asleep?
There is mention at the end of the article of an accident in the same location-10 years ago...that HGV driver had fallen asleep.

[TWR]

Fridays D.Mirror pasta, unless I read this wrong!!

[Baldric]

The driver falling asleep is a log way into this article
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/terrified-labrador-survived-a34-horror-8614842
and refers to an accident in 2006

///The Dowling family were driving home from a sunny holiday in France in August 2006 when they were crushed in a seven-car pile-up after lorry driver Ian King fell asleep behind the wheel and shunted into a group of cars.///

[roopower]

I watched a documentary looking at HGV drivers and sleeping a few years ago. Can't remember much about it except that at least one of them actually suffered from sleep apnoea which is horrifying

[TWR]

Thank you Baldric, it happen on a regular basis, not only HGV Drivers it also affects the private motorist as well, the norm is on a long stretch of roads with nothing to see & the humming of the engine, I used to do a night trunk to Coatbridge in Scotland, on the return I often used to nod off, It happens & will always happen no matter what hours the drives do. ( I'm talking legal hours )