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Up and coming law with the FFA
Page 43
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FUTURE LEGISLATION DVLA fee proposals: file DV LA is considering revising fee structures to cover the costs of changes including the 10-yearly renewal of photocard licences, the removal of the paper counterpart and the redevelopment of vehicle systems and processes.
Operator licensing: The Department for Transport (DfT) has issued a consultation looking at three main proposals: a change in the way multiple licences held in different traffic areas are administered; a change in the way fees are structured and collected; and the eventual abolition of paper vehicle discs and removal of the 28-day period of grace to use vehicles on a licence without specification. The changes are due to begin in summer 2006 (CM 9 February).
Euro-4/5 emissions standards: New vehicles will be required to meet these standards, which further reduce permitted vehicle emissions. Euro-4 will apply to vehicles first used on or after 1 October 2006, and Euro-5 to vehicles first used on or after 1 October 2009 (CM 26 January).
Driver training: The EU Driver Training Directive requires both initial and periodic training of professional goods and passenger vehicle drivers. The 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 starting by September 2009 (CM 27 October 2005).
Digital tachographs: Following publication in the ElTs official journal earlier this month (CM 13 April). legislation requiring all new trucks to he fitted with digital tachographs comes into force on I May.
Road Safety Bill: This includes the introduction of: graduated fixed penalties for speeding: fixed penalties and a deposit scheme for offences such as overloading: tougher penalties for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving; new powers to seize and dispose of uninsured vehicles: new penalties to deal with dangerous and had drivers; the piloting of motorway rest areas; better enforcement of drivers' hours rules; and a new offence of being the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle (CM 19 January).
Third Driver Licence Directive: The EC is discussing revisions to European law as follows: standardising the photocard licence and allowing microchips; introducing limited administrative validity; harmonising the frequency of medicals; ending driver 'licence tourism' with a pan-European application process; progressive access to the most powerful motorcycles, trucks and buses: removing the flexibility of towing larger trailers on a car licence; introducing minimum requirements for the initial qualification and training of driving examiners (CM 14 July 2005).