DANGEROUS and potentially unlawful plans to impose a fresh extension of lorry drivers’ hours must be dropped, Unite says.

The union understands that the government is undertaking a “technical consultation” on continuing to allow drivers to work shifts of up to 11 hours rather than 10 and up to 99 hours a fortnight rather than 90.

Unite has voiced concern that the extended driving hours, brought in to tackle the shortage of lorry drivers, is having a cumulative effect on driver fatigue.