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Mirror retrofit: This European legislation requires the retrofitting of wide-angled
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and close-proximity mirrors to the passenger side of goods vehicles more than 3.5 tonnes GVW and first registered from 1 January 2000. The Department for Transport is expected to issue specific guidelines before the implementation date of 31 March 2009.
Northern Ireland operator licensing reform: The Department of the Environment intends to amend the Northern Ireland operator licensing system to mirror that which is operating in 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 2008, but implementation is likely to take several years.
European Driver Training Directive: Introduces initial and periodic training for professional goods and passenger vehicle drivers. The operational level 2 training is referred to as a Certificate of Professional Competence. 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. The key dates for passenger vehicle drivers are 2008 and 2013. 0-licensing changes: Individual vehicle specification fees are expected to be dropped from the 0-licensing system and added to vehicle test fees after October 2008. Also, proposals to remove the 28-day period of grace for vehicles used on the margin and the abolition of paper discs are expected to be reviewed.
Graduated fixed penalties: The DfT has issued a consultation on the details of introducing a graduated fixed-penalty system for road 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.
Vehicle recovery: Arrangements will be changed to allow the Highways Agency (HA) to take over vehicle recovery/removal on the English motorway and trunk road network. Changes include: appointing a national recovery manager, giving HA traffic officers the power to remove vehicles, and new statutory charges for the removal and storage of vehicles.