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Graduated fixed penalties The DfT has issued a consultation on
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the details of introducing a graduated fixedpenalty system for traffic offences, such as drivers hours and overloading, to be issued by Vosa examiners. A deposit scheme is proposed to cover offences by visiting drivers unable to provide a GB address.
Northern Ireland 0-licensing reform The Department of the Environment intends to amend the Northern Ireland operator licensing system to mirror that of Great Britain. Changes include a system for restricted operator licensing to apply to own-account carriage for the first time, but without the introduction of Traffic Commissioners. Primary legislation is expected in spring 2009.
Statutory holiday increases
The final phase of statutory holiday increases is implemented on 1 April 2009. Workers will be entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday, capped at 28 days per year.
Self-employed drivers in scope of RTD Existing European law intends to bring selfemployed drivers into scope of the Road Transport Directive on working time. The decision is likely to depend on a final report submitted by the European Commission to the Parliament and Council of the EU.
European Driver Training Directive Introduces initial and periodic training for professional HGV and PCV drivers. The operational level 2 training is referred to as a Certificate of Professional Corn petence (CPC). For new goods vehicle drivers, the initial qualification is required from 9 September 2009, and existing drivers must complete 35 hours of training by 2014.
Mirror retrofit This European legislation requires the retrofitting of wide-angled and closeproximity mirrors to the passenger side of goods vehicles more than 3.5 tonnes GVW and first registered from 1 January 2000. The new field of view requirements apply from 31 March 2009; operators must complete self-certification forms to be presented at annual tests from 1 April 2009. European Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) VVVTA is extended to commercial vehicles from 29 April 2009 covering the finished vehicle. The UK intends to set up both a national series type approval scheme and an individual type approval process. There is a four-year phase-in for vans (to April 2013) and a five-year phase-in for larger vehicles (to April 2014).
ADR changes The 2009 text of ADR will be adopted in the UK by 1 July 2009 through new UK regulations. A key change is that instructions in writing will consist of a specified four-page model and must be provided by the carrier rather than the consignor in languages that each crew member can read and understand (rather than all languages of origin, transit and destination). From 1 January 2011 there are changes to the carriage of dangerous goods packed in limited quantities. including new placarding requirements for transport units over 12 tonnes tare weight that are carrying limited quantities goods in excess of eight tonnes. Vosa test fees A Vosa consultation includes proposals to: Halve supplement fees for tests at designated premises Transfer the vehicle specification fee from the 0-licence system and adding it to the annual test fee Increase fees to reflect higher costs The consultation closes on 29 January, and the changes are expected to be introduced from April 2009.