As a breakdown cover insurance organisation, startrescue.co.uk is always keen to keep tabs on developments in safety on our roads, so recent news regarding the causes behind possible strike action by tanker drivers came onto our radar very quickly.
Around 2,000 members of the Unite union, which represents seven petrol companies, were balloted in a campaign of action recently. The dispute has arisen over terms and conditions together with safety standards. While a good deal of strike action is often inspired by better pay, this strike seems to be, at least in part, about safety.
80 percent of those polled were in favour of strike action. The secretary general insisted that the action was about safety, not pay, arguing that it was about preventing a 'race to the bottom' as regards driver safety.
It is clear that whatever the reasons for strike action, tanker drivers are perturbed enough to bring them to the attention of the British public.
Any strike action that affects people's ability to drive their vehicles usually gets short shrift from the general population, but time will tell if the mood of the nation takes the side of the truckers or the petrol firms.
The real concern will of course be for the emergency services, and their ability to respond as normal to call outs. With luck, government stockpiles will ensure they are able to respond.
Breakdown Cover from 
