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Government moves to continue the extension of the relaxation of drivers’ hours past Christmas is “reckless, dangerous and potentially illegal”, Unite is warning.

The warning follows the union’s discovery that the DfT has launched a “technical consultation” with stakeholders into a further extension of the relaxation of drivers’ hours, which was due to come to an end on Sunday 3 October. The consultation is not open to the public.

Unite is now taking legal advice on what it believes is an illegal move by the government which it warns will only endanger HGV drivers and other road users.

Under the government’s temporary relaxation of drivers’ hours, brought in on 12 July, drivers can drive for up to 11 hours a day, compared to the previous maximum of 10 hours, and a total of 99 hours a fortnight, compared to the previous 90 hours, with rest periods also reduced.

The temporary extension was due to end next month on 3 October. However the technical consultation, which begins on 4 October, will add a further extension, until at least 23 January, when it concludes.

The union is calling for the government to raise driver wages to tackle the UK’s driver shortage, which is threatening to derail Christmas, rather than short-term measures such as the extension of drivers hours.

It warns that a new extension through to January as the technical consultation grinds on, will only add to driver fatigue, which, combined with longer periods of darkness and poor weather, is likely to endanger both drivers and road users.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite said: "These latest proposals are a further knee-jerk response to a crisis wholly created by the employers and the government.

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"Years of suppressing drivers’ pay and bypassing European regulations have led us to where we are now. The latest extension on hours will increase pressures on drivers and threaten public safety on UK roads".

Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “This is a dangerous and reckless decision by the government. The government should immediately drop its plans to extend driving hours.

“Lorry drivers are already working excessive hours and the cumulative effect on fatigue will increase the risk of accidents and damage their health.

“Rather than short-term fixes to the driver shortage, the government needs to implement long-term solutions.

“Drivers need permanent pay rises, rather than one-off bonuses, to reflect their skills and crucial role in delivering foods and goods across the UK.

“Action also needs to be taken to introduce minimum standards on pay and conditions, to end once and for all the race to the bottom and undercutting of wages which is at the heart of the current lorry driver shortages."

RHA said any extension of drivers’ hours would not solve the problem of the UK’s driver shortage crisis. Policy director Duncan Buchanan said: “The government cannot save Christmas, that is for sure. It is too late. However if they want a quick fix they should allow retired or retiring drivers to come back in the industry for a year in exchange for one CPC module, as we have suggested to them.”

The DfT has yet to respond to a request for comment.