We believe that the removal of the derogation will have a detrimental affect on the quality of coach tourism in the following ways:

• The need to hire additional drivers will increase the cost of coach touring;

• Increased costs will drive tourists on to other, less environmentally friendly, forms of travel;

• Enforced reduction of driving days will limit itineraries and excursions thus devaluing the quality of coach tours;

• Changing of drivers during a tour will interfere with the vital rapport between driver and tour manager, and driver and passengers;

• Hiring of temporary drivers unused to the style of driving required for coach touring (distinctive from public transport driving) will adversely affect the quality of the product.

• Drivers will be adversely affected through reduced job satisfaction and social conditions as well as decreases in salary.

It is our view that the new regulations are only detrimental to the coach touring industry with no benefits in safety to passengers and we urgently call for the reinstatement of the derogation."

[End of statement]

For the full EU drivers' regulations click here. (Adobe pdf document)