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FA slams EU compulsory medicals
Page 12
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THE FREIGHT Transport Association has slammed a proposal in the EU Driver Licence Directive to introduce compulsory medical checks for all drivers every five years.
It alleges that the plan would cost the industry an extra £5m a year. warnng that the downtime for drivers and vehicles would add a further cost burden.
The new European legislation on driving licences is designed to reduce fraud, ensure freedom of movement to EU drivers and enhance road safety.
The Directive is still in its early stages and, according to FTA skills manager Sally Thornley, it is unlikely to be introduced before 2008. But the trade association fears that any new barrier would only worsen the driver shortage.
The FTA's road freight council chairman. Carl Olufsen, says: "Medical checks on younger men are unlikely to reveal problems in any substantial numbers which have not, in any event, been identified by the recognition of obvious symptoms.
"FTA members suggested that regular eyesight-only checks prior to the age of 45 would provide a positive benefit for road safety."
Current legislation calls for drivers to have a medical every five years after the age of 45.