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FUTURE LEGISLATION
Page 34
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a Registration plate national identifiers: The DVLA proposes to amend the regulations to permit the voluntary display of the national flag and national identifiers.
• But 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. The proposals aimed to introduce changes from January 2004. However, this timetable is now unlikely to be met.
• Trailer registration The DVLA 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. Among them are new requirements in practical tests for candidates to undertake vehicle checks from 1September 2003, and higher test vehicle specifications for lorries, buses and vehicle-trailer combinations from 30 September 2003 for vehicles in use after 110ctober 2000, and 1July 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 1July 2010.
• Working Time Directives: The Horizontal Directive will come into force on lAugust 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: The common position on a draft EU Directive requiring compulsory initial and periodic training for vocational drivers was published on 5 December 2002. If the Directive comes into force this year, training is likely to begin in 2009.
• Speed Limiters: The European Commission has proposed a directive extending the requirement for speed limiters to be fitted to goods vehicles over 3.5-tonne maximum permitted weight. Fitting for new vehicles is likely to be introduced in 2005 for vehicles undertaking international journeys, followed by staged introduction for new domestically-operated vehicles and retrofitting from 2005 to 2008.