EC plans stricter enforcement
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• The European Commission is preparing to take action on sloppy standards in road haulage after the publication of a damning document on enforcement. It is pressing for an increase in the number of checks on drivers' hours in the White Paper on transport, published last week.
European Transport Policy by 2070: Time to Decide says: "EU regulations on road transport, particularly on working conditions, are not only insufficient they are also, and above all, extremely poorly enforced."
It adds that banned drivers can often obtain a licence in a nearby country. Now the EC plans to submit proposals to harmonise controls and penalties by the end of the year. Measures could include: • Establishing when employers are liable for offences committed by their drivers; • Increasing the number of checks member states have to carry out; and • Encouraging exchanges of information between member states (CM13-19 September).
Karen Dee, policy director at the RHA, welcomes the move, but points out that UK regulations are among the toughest in Europe and are enforced to the letter, adding: "It is essential we get a more level playing field before the union enlarges." And Geoff Dossetter of the Freight Transport Association agrees UK standards are first-rate.
The White Paper flags other key issues, such as subcontracting to bogus "selfemployed" drivers as a way around the Working Time Directive. For a full round-up, see next week's CM.