COUNCILLORS in Wycombe are so worried about the long hours worked by taxi and car hire drivers that they are going to write to the Government to try to get the law changed.

Legislation which limits driving hours does not apply, they were told this week.

Cllr Peter Cartwright, Wycombe District Council's cabinet member for transport said some drivers were putting in more than 17 hours a day. Lorry drivers could not put in these hours, even if they took breaks, he said. It was no wonder driving became erratic and tempers frayed, he said.

"Someone, somewhere needs to take this very seriously. We should make representations to parliament about it.

"There is an issue of public safety here and it needs intervention from Government legislation."

He was speaking at a meeting of the council's licensing committee which deals with taxi and private hire licences. Committee member Cllr Mike Appleyard said he had been so alarmed by erratic driving on one occasion when he was being taken to Heathrow that he had got out of the vehicle and told the driver to phone for a replacement.

"There are two or three occasions I have had that problem. It is scary," he said.

Caroline Steven, licensing officer with the council, said: "There is no legislation about how long they can drive. This does worry us."

She said people had told officers they feared drivers were falling asleep at the wheel. Drivers were working from nine to five in their day jobs and then driving taxis at night.

"There are lots working too many hours," she said. "They are not providing a safe service and not fulfilling their licence conditions.

"We are at a loss to know how to control it. "

She said officers wanted to encourage drivers to be drivers and not part timers.

But cab firms in High Wycombe say the proposal is "unfair" to their drivers. Faraz Khan, a spokesman for Tiger Taxis said: "I think it's absurd. It's taking away people's right to earn money."