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Future legislation

15th January 2004
Page 40
Page 40, 15th January 2004 — Future legislation
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Driver and vehicle licence fees: Legislation is now in force to allow the Secretary of State to pool the fees for driver and vehicle licensing, with the intention of introducing new fees.The fee changes will include an increase in the initial vehicle registration ([torn £25 to £38) from 1 January 2004 and the removal of all fees associated with vocational driving licence acquisition (eg first provisional licence entitlement, upgrading after test pass and licence renewals) from 1 March 2004.

Al) RI RID harmonisation: The Health and Safety Commission has published its consultative document on the new British Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail Regulations, to align with the ADR (international) rules. The new regs will include carriers of diesel, waste carriers and parcel carriers. The Health and Safety Executive hopes to have the new regulations in place by March 2004. 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 (CPC). Member states must lay down legislation for its introduction no later than 10 September 2006 with initial training from 10 September 2009 (CM 11 September).

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 'taxneutral' by being offset against fuel duty. to be introduced in 2006.

Continuous registration: Following the introduction of a late VED renewal fee, the government also intends to introduce a new criminal offence of being the registered keeper of an unlicensed vehicle (minimum penalty of £1,000). This will mean that the registered keeper will be liable for tax evasion, whether or not the vehicle is seen on the road.

EU drivers' hours rules: The European Commission has published proposals for updating regulation 3820/85. originally de signed to effect changes from January 2 however,thistimetableisunlikelytobemet(C 9 October).

Working Time Sectoral Directive:The Sector Directive.which applies specific rules to mobilt workers subject to tachograph regulations, wil come into force no later than 23 March 2005 The draft UK regulations are expected ii March 2004 (CM 4 September).

Speed limiters: The European Commis sion has proposed a directive extendinj the requirement for speed limiters to IN fitted to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. Fittinj for new vehicles is likely to be introducet in 2005 for vehicles on internationa journeys, followed by staged introductioi for new domestically operated vehicles an retrofitting from 2005 to 2008.

Trailer registration:The DVLA has announced proposals to introduce requirements for trailer over 1,020kg unladen weight to be registered.

The A38M: In CM 18 December Q&A (pag 34) stated that the A38M is a derestricte, single-carriageway road.The Highways Agenc has confirmed that it is, in fact, a motorway an the speed limit that applies for HGVs is 6Ompl as on other motorways.


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