They wanted to know what our problem with the programme was…
We (Lucy and Me) explained that we have no problem with the problem of Sleep Apnea being bought to the attention of the viewing public, we also have no problem with the effect of Sleep Apnea on HGV drivers being “Part” of the programme.
However we strongly objected to the demonisation again of Truck Drivers, we could see NO reason why truck drivers were singled out unless it was simply that Truck drivers are already disliked by the general public, and therefore it would make the rpogramme more sensational by preying on the publics fears about trucks and the drivers of them.
We pointed out that we had already given the trail of the programme as early as 28th Oct… The Hidden menace of Britains Trucks on this website, but gave Grace Productions and the BBC credit in that they managed to exceed even that sensationalist headline with
THE SLEEP DISORDER THAT CAN MAKE LORRY DRIVERS KILLERS and The Killer in the Cab
The long and short of this is that the BBC MAY give US… the truck drivers themselves the right of reply and actually get to speak to the producers of Real Story live on air.
I say US because although they have asked Lucy or myself, they would be happy with anyone to take part and question the producers.
I or Lucy are willing to do it if no-one will…
BUT if we do we want to be able to give the point of view of more than just us two.
If you feel that the use of HGV drivers to highlight sleep apnea was just another example of using us as an eeasy target to sensationalise their programme please post below and explain why it disturbed you
paul@midway:
Tried to get on a radio talk show last night . One of the topic’s of discussion was this killer lorry drivers stuff . i manaaged to get through and say hello and the cab phone ( hands free of course ) had a signal failure . Tried twice more but the phone kept cutting off , being in the middle of nowhere didnt help i suppose .
Anyway what i was going to say
"is that the survey has unfairly targeted a single user group . Given that there is also bus driver’s, van driver’s ,sales rep’s , and 7.5t driver’s then the survey should have also included them . I,m sure the results would have been fairer and the results would have shown all user’s can suffer from the sleep disorder . But it wouldn’t be as sensational as killer lorry driver’s . "
And then answer any question’s the presenter put to me .
The presenter was also under the impression that lorry driver’s can opt out of the WTD 48 hr week and was saying we shouldn’t be allowed to .
Obviously i would have also corrected him on this point .
[zb] me off the phone had a hissy fit , the only time i have felt the need to correct a few point’s on a topic of discussion on the radio and i manage to get on air and the phone pack’s up .
I might try again tonight and see if i can go back on air .
I think that Professional Drivers do make an easy target for producing a sensational headline. The common conception of the majority of general motorists is that Trucks are big heavy ‘Juggernauts’ that destroy the roads, create traffic queue’s and intimidate everyone, a myth easily and happily perpetuated by a sensation seeking and subjective media that look only at tomorrow’s circulation, or viewing figures.
It is blatantly clear that driving standards in the UK are poor at best and appalling at worst, many Professioial Drivers contribute to this, but then, there are good and bad car driver’s, truck driver’s, motorcyclists, were all gulty of doing something ‘dopey’ at some time or other.
On the subject of Sleep Disorders and the statistics put forward as being 80,000 potentially dangerous truck drivers marauding along Britain’s roads, we must remeber that these fugures are just that, ‘Statistics’ and even if produced from reputable sources contain by nature a margin of error so the true fugures are likely to be significantly lower that that reported. Having said that this subject, presented in this way is an absolute gift to a sensation hungry media.
We need to get back to basics. We need to address the issue of driving standards, we need proper awareness training for ALL driver’s as part of the test system, we need proper, objective road policing, proper investment in the road infrastructure and a step back from sensationalising the pet project of single issue political interest groups who happen to be flavour of the month.
As a avid BBC TV and Radio 4 listener I am ashamed, but not entirely surprised, that the BBC will report in such a subjective manner. The BBC need to keep one eye firmly focused on it’s reputation.
i agree that this is yet another way to target us with bad publicity. dont coach drivers pose a bigger threat considering their higher speeds? couple that to their business ie transporting PEOPLE! 1 coach can easily kill over 50 people without touching another vehicle yet our (mainly) single person profession is brought up on tv as potential murderers.
if this is such a big problem, why does it take 2 years before treatment can begin? that time can claim a life or someones job. why should we have to end our career for a treatable disorder? even a court can allow you to keep a vocational licence if they feel it is justified but DVLA will revoke it without question for something that is not our fault
In a nutshell, I feel that both on this thread and the others on the same subject, plenty has been said by us already that the BBC can read-up on.
Save repeating ourselves, my thoughts are exactly as Rikki posted i.e. this is not a truck driver problem; it is a driver problem along with any other industry or walk of life where falling asleep without warning is a danger!
If the BBC would like me to explain further there’s a little button labelled ‘email’ at the bottom of each of my posts - feel free to use it!
*I am more than happy for Rikki to represent my views as I feel we are thinking alike.
I think there is only one lot in this country that is going round with Sleep Apnea and that is the BBC. What do we have here but the over paid over staffed BBC living the life of riley at our expence on the back of the Telly licence, like that other idiot that works for the BBC up in Manchester ‘Beswick’ this is the best that they can come up with in having a go at our industry and us the bloody backbone of it. When it starts to throw it down with snow later this week lets all stay in bed because this programme implies that I’m a tired ■■■■■■■ and with the extended pub hours great, thats if we are not already down the road stuck in some RDC delivering all the Christmas goodies for all the punters out there.
From a personal point of view there is no way I would of taken part in the programme like the two drivers did because those sods the BBC will stitch you up something rotten. I can imagine Jim Crow sitting back and letting his lads be dragged in to disrepute by those puffs at the White City anyone from the TGWU like to comment on what the BBC have come out with against one section of the community?, its a good job I’m not a one legged uni educated black lesbian because that would be discrimination. How can Sleep Apnea affect 80,000 LGV driver s out of 500,000? what about everyone else out there why pick on us?, because we are easy meat and because we are not organised nationally
im not involved with the industry anymore or suffer from sleep apnea but i do think that truckdrivers get a raw deal with the media. i think that you or lucy are the best folk for the job when it comes to speaking on truckers behalf as you are the owners and runners of this site which gives you a bit of clout. and lets be honest if you dont ,no one will cuz the magazines that portray themselves as the drivers friend dont seem to be bothered
They wanted to know what our problem with the programme was…
We (Lucy and Me) explained that we have no problem with the problem of Sleep Apnea being bought to the attention of the viewing public, we also have no problem with the effect of Sleep Apnea on HGV drivers being “Part” of the programme.
However we strongly objected to the demonisation again of Truck Drivers, we could see NO reason why truck drivers were singled out unless it was simply that Truck drivers are already disliked by the general public, and therefore it would make the rpogramme more sensational by preying on the publics fears about trucks and the drivers of them.
We pointed out that we had already given the trail of the programme as early as 28th Oct… The Hidden menace of Britains Trucks on this website, but gave Grace Productions and the BBC credit in that they managed to exceed even that sensationalist headline with
THE SLEEP DISORDER THAT CAN MAKE LORRY DRIVERS KILLERS and The Killer in the Cab
The long and short of this is that the BBC MAY give US… the truck drivers themselves the right of reply and actually get to speak to the producers of Real Story live on air.
I say US because although they have asked Lucy or myself, they would be happy with anyone to take part and question the producers.
I or Lucy are willing to do it if no-one will…
BUT if we do we want to be able to give the point of view of more than just us two.
If you feel that the use of HGV drivers to highlight sleep apnea was just another example of using us as an eeasy target to sensationalise their programme please post below and explain why it disturbed you
Sorry I didnt watch this cos I knew there would be an agenda SOMEWHERE but feel free to represent my feelings as they are in line with your own.
my mainproblem with the program or what I saw of it was that it was just pure senseationalism and nothing more to much attention was placed on driver A hitting something or other or killing someone and absolutly no attention was give to the main causes of drivers running tired IE lack of adiquate facilities, parking food etc
seriously do 15 hr shift then have 9 hours off in a layby because that’s the only parking there is at 10pm then start at 7am and tell me you don’t still feel tired of that’s assuming you get any sleep with cars and other passing about a foot from the your cab
I’m more than happy for rikki and (or) lucy to speek to these idiots on my behalf
going for another coffee as pointed out in the program hgv drivers falling asleep at the wheel is major problem as the red bull and proplus are just waring off
Which by a very strange co-incidence happens to be a product to help those with Sleep Apnea
Are you surprised, since when do researchers do a survey for no finacial gain, truck drivers are basically off the road if diagnosed positive, unless they are recieving treatment, hence the spot light being focused on them by a company with something to sell. Now theres a surprise.
Shame the BBC can’t see the wood for the trees, and don’t or won’t tell independent production companys to [zb] off when they come up with a program that creates a scare story to promote a product or service.
Like everyone else as stated above. I agree its a problem but why is it just a problem for Lgv drivers?? Anyone in a job with this problem can be a danger to public safety.
With the state of the industy we need positive programmes that highlight the job we do rather than making us all out to be killers .
What about some sort of programme that Tries to “educate” CAR drivers into the real dangers they can face on the road by there driving style around lgv’s Ie cutting in to gaps left for braking , Braking distance, Speed limits, field of vison etc etc… im sure this would be of more benefit to the public and if just one person learns something from it then job done!
jammymutt:
Will what you say be recorded live or will they be able to edit it to their own liking ;)…Just a thought.
It is recorded live… although they have said that during the course of the filming if a question is fluffed, or if we want to rephrase a question that will be ok…
It is only about a 5 minute slot so it will be difficult to get over much of what needs to be said and repond to the producers replies as well
Lucy has done an amazing amount of research today and some very interesting FACTS have emerged…
( Note to BBC and Grace productions fact ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fkt) n. Knowledge or information based on real occurrences: an account based on fact; a blur of fact and fancy. Something demonstrated to exist or known to have existed: Genetic engineering is now a fact. That Chaucer was a real person is an undisputed fact. A real occurrence; an event: had to prove the facts of the case. Something believed to be true or real: a document laced with mistaken facts)
but it is probably better at this point if we dont publish them on here… at least not until after we have had the TV discussion filmed tomorrow. seeing as how Grace productions have been on and off this website for a lot of today reading the threads on this subject
But it should be interesting to hear the producers responses
At my last medical, 3 years ago, part of the examination included a question. Do you suffer from sleep apnoea? I answered not, not as far as I know. If the doctor then takes that as the definitiove answer who is at fault if the answer given is truthful but wrong because the condition was not recognised ( note the “as far as I know”)? Should the doctor, who could reasonably conclude that the patient was not qualified to make the assesment, made further investigation to determine if the condition was affecting the driver being examined?
Incidentally it is vocational license holders who have to have a medical examination on a regular basis and this will not pick up those who may be affected by this condition and yet drive vehicles that do not require any thing above a standard vehicle license for their driving entitlement.
. Tried twice more but the phone kept cutting off , being in the middle of nowhere didnt help i suppose .
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