Working Time Directive opt-out....another mistake?

So it's a 48-hour maximum then - all done and dusted and decided upon by people that get nowhere near that amount of hours worked. It's a big, big mistake in my view. Just like the "tachograph" driving laws* they will force many to work illegally because there is no leeway or discretion. I know from experience the pressure that will be put on employees will be greater than anything put on them by working long hours. Some folk NEED to work long hours yet will be prevented from doing so. What do you think?

* imagine driving a truck load to a dock and finding you are out of driving hours. The load has to make the ship (it sails in the next six hours say) but you ring your boss to to tell him you are parking up.........what do you think the reply is going to be?