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Digital tachographs
Page 22
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The introduction of digital smart-card tachographs, scheduled by the EC for August this year, has been postponed by the EU parliament. MEPs took the view that all vehicles manufactured after 5 August 2006 should befitted with digital tachos, as should all vehicles entering service after August 2007. UK Transport Minister David Jamieson's had already promised that digital tacho legislation would not be enforced in the UK from August, because of a fear the industry was not ready (CM 31 March).
Breaks
Following the Council of Ministers' extremely complex table that calculated daily and weekly rest breaks for drivers, the EU parliament reinstated what already exists. "The rules we have may not be perfect but the industry has been working with them," says the FTA's Joan Williams. MEPs also voted against amending the regs to cover vehicles under 3.5 tonnes. It got voted through as a recommendation at a committee level," Williams reports. "But it didn't go through parliament. It was a bit of a nonsense, it won't be an issue debated in conciliation."
Penalties
The EU parliament favours the introduction of penalties including temporary immobilisation of the vehicle concerned. This could ensure a uniform approach by the EU's member states.
Records
MEPs voted to extend the number of daily driving records that must be retained by drivers for roadside checks. At the moment drivers retain sheets for a maximum of seven days. The EU, Council of Ministers and EU parliament have proposed to extend this the current proposal is for drivers to carry more than a month's worth of driving records. "How on earth can you keep a tight control over records?" asks Williams. From an employer's point of view they will be losing control."