THE tragic accident has again highlighted the dangers of driver fatigue.

Speaking after the verdict, one of the investigating police officers said it was only through education and enforcement of drivers' hours that accidents like this could be prevented.

"The issue of driver fatigue is one that is to the fore after recent events," said Insp Paul Winks, from Buckinghamshire Roads Policing Unit.

"We will continue to work with other agencies, such as the Vehicle Inspectorate and the Transport Research Laboratory, to tackle this problem."

PC Andy Bryant, from Thames Valley Police, had earlier told the hearing at Aylesbury that driver Christopher Sloane had been in breach of European regulations on coach drivers' hours by failing to take enough rest the night before the crash.

The absolute legal minimum is nine hours, but Mr Sloane only had a seven-hour break, much of which, said PC Bryant, would have been taken up with travelling from work to home and back again, and preparing the coaches.

Mr Sloane and his co-driver had started their tachograph, the device which records drivers' hours, three hours after they began work on the morning of the accident - a further breach of regulations, he said.

In the absence of any mechanical or external factors, the explanation for the accident had to rest with the driver.

"There is substantial compelling evidence to indicate that gross inattention or fatigue is the most likely cause," he said.

Death crash firm facing legal action

LEGAL action could be taken against the coach firm involved in the M25 crash, which killed six people.

An inquest ruled that victims of the crash involving a WR Spring and Son coach from Evesham, died accidentally.

But because driver Christopher Sloane, who was killed in the accident, had not had enough rest, survivors are considering legal action against the firm alleging the driving regulations were contravened.

Police also found the coach firm had started its tachograph chart, which records drivers' hours, three hours after the coach set out for the day trip to France on Saturday, November 16.

"Clearly, as a consequence of the inquest, we will consider the evidence and it is expected that action will follow," said Nicholas Yates, a solicitor acting on behalf of 16 people who were injured in the accident.

"It has been very traumatic for everyone."

Any legal action is likely to be civil claims for damages against the family-run coach company, which closed soon after the accident.

Extremely tired

Driver Graham Spring, who ran the firm with his sister Pam, died in the accident.

Relatives of those who died were said to be too upset or unwilling to comment.

The coroner at Aylesbury, Richard Hulett, said Mr Sloane must have been "extremely tired" after such a long day's work.

He concluded that his "profound fatigue" had resulted in the coach leaving the motorway.

Earlier in the day, PC Andy Bryant, of Thames Valley Police, said Mr Sloane had started work at 5am. But he had only finished driving just before 10pm the night before and had had almost four hours less rest than the prescribed safe limit.

The fact that Mr Sloane was still working at 10.50pm that day meant he had exceeded the maximum number of legally permitted daily hours for a coach driver.

The coach was carrying 43 people on their way home from a "booze cruise" to Boulogne. It drifted off the M25 between junctions 15 and 16 and careered down a steep embankment, before overturning on to its side.

Day of fun turned into a nightmare

IT was supposed to be a fun day out to France before the Christmas shopping rush, but as the day-trippers sat back in their seats on the return home, a nightmare unfolded before them.

For six people it would be the last trip they would ever make.

While they settled down in their seats contemplating their purchases obtained in Boulogne, driver Christopher Sloane was battling against fatigue.

The coach veered across the M25 and plunged down a steep embankment before turning on to its side.

Survivors clambered through skylights and emergency hatches to escape the carnage, shopping strewn across the carriageway.

Fifty-six-year-old Graham Spring, who ran the company with his sister Pam, was among the dead. He had driven the group of shoppers to Boulogne.

Grandparents

He was described at his funeral as "a warm man" with a passion for cars and buses.

Mr Sloane, 42, died, along with his wife Karen, 38. Their two children are now being brought up by grandparents Margaret and David Fletcher.

Father-of-two Bernard Coppin from Drakes Broughton, near Pershore, was killed, moments after saying how much he had enjoyed the day out.

Also killed was Norma Evans, of Badsey, who went on the trip with her sister Pat Beauchamp.

And Jane Wedgbury, from Alcester, Warwickshire, died in hospital three days after the crash.

Mrs Coppin told the Evening News days after the crash that although her husband had not been looking forward to it, he had had a great day out.

"He said he wasn't going to enjoy the trip but he had a great time," said Mrs Coppin, who had been on the trip with her husband and six friends.

"His last words were 'what a fantastic day I've had'. I woke up in the coach on my side.

"I was bemused at first and then heard my friend shouting at me to get out. All I could think of was Bernard.

"Later on, I thought I saw him lying on the ground - he looked peacefully asleep."

A special memorial concert is being held on Saturday, May 17, at Evesham Methodist Church.