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Another year, yet another deadline
Page 6
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We're in the final run-up to digital tachos — but where are they? The situation would be funny if it wasn't so serious. Dominic Perry reports.
SERIOUS QUESTIONS are being asked over the feasibility of the revised 5 August 2005 deadline for the introduction of digital tachographs.
Smart-card tachos were originally due to he fitted in all new vehicles from 5 August this year. This date was shelved under pressure from the industry after it became apparent that the technology was simply not in place.
And now, less a year from the revised deadline, truck manufacturers and trade associations alike are expressing increasing disquiet over the revised deadline and what they see as the EU's inflexibility The Dutch government, which currently has presidency of the EU. recently confirmed that the regulations would be enforced from 5 August next year. However, the DVLA in the UK has said it does not have a date by which it intends to introduce the drivers' cards which will be needed by all truck drivers if they want to get behind the wheel of a truck equipped with a digital tacho.
The truck manufacturers say they were promised a full year to test the new equipment to ensure it is compatible with their electronic systems. Given that only one of the three tacho manufacturers. Actia. is anywhere near gaining full type approval for its system, this is plainly an impossibility.
It is also growing increasingly unlikely that enough of the new units will be available to the truck manufacturers in time — particularly as trucks built as soon as next April may not be registered until after the August deadline.
Simon Wood from MercedesBenz says manufacturers might have to retrofit new digital tacho units when they become available. "Like all the other manufacturers we are here and waiting for something outside our control," he says. "I wouldn't like to say whether we will meet the deadline next year or not, but the clock is still ticking."
James Hookham,policy director at the Freight Transport Association,adds: "Despite all the talk and the statements made by ministers last year we still haven't seen any evidence that it's going to happen on time. We've had exactly the same promises as before but there doesn't seem to be any of the technology in place.
"What we are asking is that before anyone commits to anything we have a review to make sure that it's deliverable — otherwise it's the operator who will be left open to prosecution."