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FUTURE LEGISLATION
Page 44
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II Registration plate national identifiers: The DVLA proposes to amend the regulations to permit the voluntary display of the national flag and national identifiers.
• Brit disc: The government is to take forward the introduction of a road-user charge for foreign operators, similar to the Continental Eurovignette. UK operators would also have to pay the new fee of about £750 a year, but this would be offset by reductions In other taxes.
• EU drivers hours rules: The European Commission has published proposals for updating regulation 3820/85. These include a 30-minute break requirement after three hours' driving; a daily rest period of 12 hours; and the removal of the 36-hour weekly rest provision. The anticipated date of implementation for these changes is from January 2004.
• Trailer registration: The DV1.A has announced proposals to introduce requirements for trailers over 1,020kg unladen weight to be registered.
• Mobile phones: The government is considering banning the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving. It is proposed that a new provision be added to existing regulations, applying to the driver of any motor vehicle, which would specifically prohibit the use of hand-held devices that permit two-way communication, whether the medium is speech, text or other forms of data. The DfT is currently studying over 1,000 responses to a consultation document, prior to a report going to ministers.
• European changes to driving tests: A number of changes to the driving test are due to come into effect this year. Amongst them are new requirements in practical tests for candidates to undertake vehicle checks from 1 September 2003, and higher test vehicle specifications for lorries, buses and vehicle-trailer combinations from 30 September 2003 for vehicles in use after 11 October 2000, and 1 July 2007 for vehicles in use prior toll October 2000. Actual weight requirements (minimum actual weight of vehicle at test) for lorry and vehicle-trailer tests will be introduced from 1 July 2010.
II Working Time Directives: The Horizontal Directive will come into force on 1 August 2003, bringing non-mobile workers in the transport sector into the main directive and applying some rules to mobile workers. The Sectoral Directive, which will apply specific rules to mobile workers, will come into force no later than 23 March 2005.
• Driver training: A draft EU Directive requiring compulsory basic and on-going training for vocational drivers has been published, with a consultation paper from the Driving Standards Agency. This seeks views on several proposals including hours of training, syllabus content and grandfather rights.