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Future legislation

20th January 2005
Page 40
Page 40, 20th January 2005 — Future legislation
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Digital tachograph smart card fees: The DVLA is consulting on fees for the issue of digital tachograph smart cards to allow the DVLA and DVLNI full cost recovery (estimated at around E72m for the years up to 2010). The consultation offers two fee proposal options: option 1 provides for some subsidy of driver fees by companies; option 2 provides for a greater degree of subsidy by the driver. In neither case is there a charge for workshop or control cards.

DVLA fee proposals: Following a consultation in 2003, the DVLA is considering various options for revising fee structures to cover the costs of future changes, including 10-yearly renewal of photocard licences, the removal of the paper counterpart and the redevelopment of vehicle systems and processes.

Fixed Penalties and Deposit Scheme for Offences: The Government plans to introduce fixed penalty and deposit schemes for offences, such as overloading and driver's hours infringements. This would allow VOSA and the police to operate the schemes at VOSA roadside cheeks and to ensure non-UK resident drivers do not escape penalties.

Graduated Speeding Penalties: The Government proposes to introduce a more graduated structure of fixed penalties, to take better account of the severity of the crime and ensure that the punishment reflects the degree of speeding.

EU drivers' hours rules: The European Commission has published proposals to update and amend the existing drivers' hours rules (3820/85).The proposals were scheduled to introduce changes from I January 2004 but the discussion and decision process has not been completed. rules to mobile workers subject to tachograph regulations, will come into force no later than 23 March 2005. Draft UK regulations and guidance were published on 1 November.

Driver training EU Driver Training Directive. The European Commission has published a Directive requiring initial and periodic training of professional goods and passenger vehicle drivers. The Level 2 training covers fuel economy, drivers' hours and customer service; the qualification is referred to as a Certificate of Professional Competence. Member states must lay down laws for its introduction no later than 10 September 2006 with initial training from September 2009 (CM 11 September 2003).

Lorry road user charging: The government intends to introduce a distance-based road user charge for UK and foreign vehicles using UK roads. The charge is intended to be 'tax neutral' by being offset against fuel duty, to be introduced in 2008.

Third Driver Licence Directive: The European Commission has proposed a revision of European legislation on driving licences to: generalise the photocard licence and allow the introduction of a microchip; introduce a limited administrative validity of driving licences; harmonise the frequency of medical checks: end driver 'licence tourism' by introducing a pan-European application process; introduce progressive access to the most powerful motorcycles, trucks and buses; remove the flexibility of towing larger trailers on a car licence; and introduce minimum requirements for the initial qualification and training of driving examiners. The proposals are likely to receive their first reading in the European Parliament in the autumn.

Digital tachographs: European regulations require the fitment of digital tachographs to new vehicles from 5 August 2004. However, due to equipment type approval delays, the UK government has not enforced this requirement to fit digital tachos from August. The European Commission has issued a moratorium until 5 August 2005.


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