SWT service struck by lorry

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

For a Romanian national, working in this country on a minimum wage, it's probably more than enough of a penalty.

The court will have taken his personal financial circumstances into account when deciding the terms of their judgement.

[ChrisB]

I very much doubt a lorry driver was on minimum wage?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm. Member relex109 would probably be able to quantify that in more detail - and so would I, having looked around at such jobs today: ^8 an hour if you're lucky ... 

[ChrisB]

Mininmum wage is nearer ^6.60!

[Chris from Nailsea]

^5.93. I didn't say National Minimum Wage, I said a minimum wage - as in, a rather minimal hourly rate, which is what is generally paid to those such as immigrant Romanian lorry drivers. 

[JayMac]

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) has released its report into a bridge strike and road vehicle incursion onto the roof of a passing train near Oxshott station on 5 November 2010. The RAIB has made five recommendations.

http://www.raib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/reports_2011/report132011.cfm

[broadgage]

The fine isn't big enough....

Agree, at the very least the railway industry should be compensated for the cost of the delay minutes incurred.
And the NHS compensated for the costs of treating the injured.
And the cost of the police time and inquiries.

I am not suggesting that the driver personally should pay all the above, I very much doubt that he could.
The company involved, or their insurers, should however be liable for the full costs.
After a few large payouts of a million pounds or so, insurers and employers of road vehicle drivers might start taking a little more notice of the qaulifications, experience, and previous record of drivers.


A train driver who causes a serious accident by his own misjudgment or error is liable to dismissal and would have problems obtaining similar work with another TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company).

A road vehicle driver who causes a serious accident generally gets a small fine and carries on driving.

[JayMac]

Those ideas may have some merit, broadgauge, but insurance premiums would have to rise greatly to cover the extended liability.

Increased insurance premiums for vehicle users leads to increased costs which are ultimately paid for by you and me.

It's the customer at the end of the chain who dictates the cost of a commodity. We all want to pay as little as possible for those commodities and that is why we see an inexperienced Romanian driver on a low wage driving a a 26 tonne concrete mixer.

If you're happy to see your cost of living rise to cover the extended liabilities you propose then that's fine. I wouldn't be so happy.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

Hmm. Member relex109 would probably be able to quantify that in more detail - and so would I, having looked around at such jobs today: ^8 an hour if you're lucky ... 

a month later i finally read this one :-) ..... to be fair when i was working with the green and yellow, on the face of it the pay wasn't too bad...digs out old wage slip.... 7.31 upto 50 hours and then 9.13 for each hour after in a week (and oh yes  you reached that every week!) around christmas you got a drop rate bonus of a pound for every delivery over your target (mine was only 60 as i had a rural route) i only had a 40 hour contract (tuesday-friday) i rarely worked a monday or saturday yet  in january with overtime i got 1671 before tax.....very long days very stressful, with the haulage industry its not that its low pay as its not too bad (not amazing but not bad).... it is the very long hours and none stop almost every single min of the day often with no break, i left because i didn't believe that it was worth it and it was a game that i no longer wanted to play

[broadgage]

I am not certain that my proposal would increase the overall cost of living as is suggested above.

At present the cost of road accidents is met by the state, as regards to police time, medical costs etc.
The damage and delay to railway operations is met by the railway industry, and thus ultimatly by either the taxpayer or the farepayer.

Only a nominal contribution is made by the driver or operator of the road vehicle, or there insurer.

Under my proposal, the insurers of the road vehicle would be required to pay the full costs.
Insurance premiums would no doubt rise, but costs to the publicly funded police, railway and health service should fall.
It is likely that road transport firms and their insurers would require better trained drivers.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

well its surely different in this case.... the lorry drivers company did have public liability insurance i presume?