Pubdate: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 Source: Sunday Times (UK) Copyright: 2000 Times Newspapers Ltd. Contact: http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/ Author: Dominic Tonner TRAIN DRIVERS CALL FOR 'DRUG BREAKS' TRAIN drivers could need more free time to enable them to take recreational drugs if they were to be legalised, a rail union said last night. Aslef, which last week won a new deal on lesser working hours for drivers after threatening a series of one-day strikes, called for "discreet blocks of time" to be inserted into crew rotas. These would allow drivers successive days away from work and end a situation in which some staff are claimed to be working 12 days in a row without time to relax. Mick Rix, the union's general secretary, was reported as saying that the proposals would also take into account the effects of recreational drugs on drivers to allow them time to recover. However, Aslef said last night that the comments referred only to a "hypothetical situation". The comments formed part of a general demand for working hours to be arranged to allow drivers to lead a "normal social life" within current rules, which ban any alcohol consumption 24 hours before attending work. As well as reflecting the effects of drinking alcohol, Rix suggested the new rules would take into account the effects of recreational drugs. "We have to anticipate the situation where we are going to get train drivers that also want to take drugs," Rix was reported as saying. "We have to try to get sufficient time off so that if a driver does . . . indulge in recreational drugs, he does it without impacting upon work." Some drivers would want to take drugs "as the use of recreational drugs becomes more widespread". In further controversial remarks, Rix appeared to link potential drug use with drivers from ethnic minority backgrounds. "We have to accept that [drug-taking] is part of their culture," he was reported to have said. Aslef said last night that Rix's remarks did not amount to a tacit approval of drivers taking recreational drugs, which is at present contrary to all current legislation. A spokesman said: "We are not talking about time off for drivers who might be taking drugs. We are talking about the current situation in which policy prevents drivers from having a reasonable and normal social life. "The comments about drugs deal with a completely hypothetical situation. We are certainly not encouraging drivers to break current rules or legislation on drugs and alcohol." Under current rules governing public transport drivers, staff must test negative for alcohol 24 hours before they are due to attend work. They can also be tested when turning up for work if there is suspicion that they may be unfit for duty. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea