FUTURE LEGISLATION Forthcoming changes in the law brought to you
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by the FreightTransport Association Non-EU licences being exchanged for GB licence There were changes in the Driving Licences (Exchangeable Licences) Order that came into force on 11 January 2013. It means that certain non-EU driving licences may now only be exchanged for a GB licence providing that proof of the driver having passed an appropriate driving test is provided. The change means that these drivers must prove that the testing standards of the test passed are comparable to those in GB.
Fuel duty increase The planned increase in fuel duty for 1 September 2013 has been scrapped.
Driving offences penalty changes The Department for Transport proposes to make careless driving a fixed penalty offence and open to the offer of remedial training. Also proposed is an increase in penalties for offences dealt with by way of fixed penalty from £60 to £90 (usually for endorsable offences) and to similarly increase fines for non-endorseable offences. Changes are expected in April 2013.
Mandatory greenhouse gas reporting Under the Climate Change Act, the government will introduce regulations in October to require all companies that are UK-registered and are either listed on the London or New York Stock Exchange or part of the European Economic State to provide greenhouse gas emission information in director reports submitted in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. The reporting requirement will come into place for company reporting years ending on or after 1 October 2013.
Acquired rights for transport managers A deadline of 4 December 2013 has been set for any holders of grandfather rights for transport manager CPC to apply for an acquired rights certificate (GV203). Only holders of grandfather rights certificates may apply for the acquired rights, and applications must be made to the Department for Transport. Scottish government consults on reducing drink-driving limits The Scottish government has initiated a consultation on a proposal to reduce the drink-driving limits. The proposal is to reduce the limit from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol in every 100m1 of blood, with an equivalent reduction in the ratio of alcohol to breath and alcohol to urine.
Introduction of Euro-6 The introduction of Euro-6 will apply from 31 December 2013 for new registrations. A reduced pollution certificate (RPC) is available for Euro-6 but the reduced VED will only be available until December 2016 for holders of valid certificates.
Driver licensing fee changes The DVLA is consulting on proposals to increase driver licence transaction fees to pay for the impending new requirement for vocational licence holders to administratively renew their licences every five years. Options look at how the cost of an additional £19.6bn will be borne by which customers. The changes are expected to be implemented in April 2013.
EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval All new vehicles made or imported for sale in the UK or across the EU cannot be sold or registered for use on the road without an approval — no approval means no sale. Introduced in phases from 2010, ECWVTA will also apply to: existing type medium and heavy CVs and trailers built in a single stage, as well as new type medium and heavy CVs built in multi-stages from October 2012; existing type LCVs built in multi-stages from October 2013; and existing type medium and heavy CVs built in multi-stages from October 2014.
EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval Phased introduction of EC regulations on vehicle type approval from October 2012. To include single stage build for medium and heavy CVs. Further stages in 2013 and 2014 as mentioned above.
Third EU driver licence directive Following an EU directive published in 2006, changes to the law include: five yearly renewals for vocational licenses — to include self certification for medical fitness until the age of 45 — and a limit of 3,500kg on the maximum authorised mass of a trailer towed by a driver with a newly acquired B+E entitlement after 19 January 2013. The changes to entitlement are not retrospective.
MoT exemption for older vehicles Something that came into force on 18 November 2012 is an amendment to the legislation on testing of vehicles. This will exempt vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1960 from MoT testing. Although vehicles will be exempt they would still need to be in a roadworthy condition when used on public roads.