MID-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has thrown his weight behind a campaign to prevent weekend horsebox users being penalised.

Strict interpretation of a European regulation which bans anyone with a full-time job from driving an HGV lorry or equivalent vehicle (more than 7.5 tonnes) at weekends is having a damaging and serious effect on those who need to drive a horsebox in their spare time.

Mr Luff has joined forces with Horse and Hound magazine in a bid to persuade the department for transport and vehicle operator agency (VOSA) to ensure drivers of large horseboxes are excluded from the laws governing compulsory and prohibitive rest periods.

He has added his name to the magazine’s petition and says he will continue to fight when parliament reconvenes in the autumn.

Horse and Hound claims there is no evidence that shows drivers of horse lorries are a significant risk and that the regulation will cause serious problems for equine sport in England and Wales. The industry had previously been told that the European regulation governing drivers’ hours for vehicles more than 7.5 tonnes would only apply to people who drive HGVs commercially for a living. But several recent cases highlighted in Horse and Hound have shown that VOSA has changed its mind and is advising the horse industry that anyone with a full-time job must now comply with the regulations.

Mr Luff said: “Obviously I welcome any regulations that are brought in to improve safety and to prevent serious accidents but the Department of Transport and VOSA need to apply some common sense.

“When an individual’s fulltime job is unrelated to driving an HGV he or she should not be banned from driving a horse box at weekends as part of their hobby. VOSA has quite rightly already granted an exemption to those in the Territorial Army but it needs to go one step further put an end to this fiasco and exempt all individuals whose full-time job does not involve driving HGVs.

“If these regulations continue to be imposed on drivers of large horseboxes. I fear it will become impossible for them to take part in shows and events.

This would be a great blow for them and also a real blow to the equine industry and rural economy. I have added my name to the Horse and Hound petition and urge anyone else who shares these concerns to visit the magazine’s website and add their name, too.”