FUTURE LEGISLATION
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UK • Drivers hours proposals to review domestic rules still being considered with view to deregulation. Also, regulations anticipated providing exemption from EU rules for vehicles used only within airports and abnormal load carrying vehicles escorted by police.
• 0 licensing: legislation implementing continuous 0 licensing now before Parliament-new scheme starts 1 January 1996. Fees increased by £2 per year per vehicle with proceeds towards enforcement.
• Driver licensing: new measures including staged testing limit on car licence holders of 3.5 tonnes gross, theory part of driving test and photocard driving licences now under consultation. Changes due 1 July 1996. Current licence holders will retain all current entitlement except new higher eyesight standards for LGV and PCV drivers, which may be retrospective. • London lorry ban: DOT has announced plans to abolish permit scheme.
• Environmental & hazardous goods: implementation of EU directive on limitation of petrol vapour emissions. This affects emissions of volatile organic compounds during distribution. Requirements apply to storage depots, service stations, and road and rail tankers. Also proposals to introduce Radioactive Material (Road Transport)(Great Britain) Regulations 1995 to implement International Energy Safety Agency Safety series number six recommendations in late 1995 early 1996.
• Weights & Dimensions: proposals to increase weight limit of two axle rigids from 17 tonnes to 18 tonnes and to increase width limit of non-refrigerated vehicles to 2.55m under consultation.
• Seat belts: proposals to require fitment of lap belts in all minibuses and coaches used specifically for transporting children up to 16 under consultation. • Continuous. excise licensing: proposals to licence all vehicles whether in use or not. Implementation proposed for 1997. • Emissions tests: the Environment Bill (Currently before Parliament) has been amended dropping proposals to allow officials other than uniformed police officers to stop vehicles prior to emissions tests. London boroughs are still seeking
permission for borough officials to stop vehicles for such tests. The ETA, RHA, RAC and AA have petitioned against this. Motorways in Scotland: draft regulations to replace 1964 regulations and bring them into line with motorway rules in England and Wales.
EU • Animal Transport: EU currently considering proposals for implementing directives on travelling time, feeding/watering requirements and vehicle construction standards.
• Second generation tachographs: amending regulation providing For full electronic alternative or smart card add on to existing equipment now adopted by Commission as formal proposals. Under consultation but little progress at EU level. • CO2/Energy Tax: Council of Ministers has agreed EU states may set up unilateral CO2 energy taxes. Guidelines to be drawn up by Commission. New proposals for a carbon tax directive have been presented by the Commission.
DANGEROUS GOODS AND ENVIRONMENT
• Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor Directive: previously known as risk prevention officer directive, the directive reached "common position" at the March 1995 Council of Transport Ministers meeting. The proposal requires companies involved in road, rail or inland waterway transport of dangerous goods to appoint a trained person to advise on dangerous goods regulations. Likely implementation by end of 1999. • ADR: HSE consultation document on the new ADR-aligned carriage of dangerous goods by road regulations is expected in September 1995. Implementation of new rules intended for 1 June 1996 with a transitional period to November 1997.
• Quality Assurance Scheme and CEN Standard for carriers of dangerous goods: directive requiring the development of voluntary quality standard for all dangerous goods carriers with the existing Dutch standard being used as a base for development. CEN Technical Committee 320 (TC 320) has established a working group to develop the standard and is due to present a draft to the Commission by December 1996.