Tachodisc In The News
RT Compliance Newsletter - October 2011
EU proposals for a more level playing field.
It has been widely reported that the EU have drafted a range of proposals to amend the specification of digital tachographs, which if agreed would come into force 2017 / 2018.
But, what do these proposals include? Karen Crispe, Tachodisc’s Managing Director provides an overview here.
The objectives for the proposed legislation (amends to Council Regulation (ECC) 3821/85 and (ECC) 561/2006) have been identified as:
· Improving the trustworthiness of the recording equipment
· Increasing the effectiveness of compliance checks
· Reducing the cost of using recording equipment, by reducing the administrative burden.
To increase the security and therefore the trustworthiness of the digital tachograph, the following measures have been recommended:
· Merging the digital driver card with the driving licence
· Extending the security encryption on both the driver card and vehicle unit
· Adding a GNSS (GPS) module into the tachograph to record the start and end point of a journey.
· Incorporating functionality that would allow enforcement agencies to interrogate the digital tachograph remotely at the roadside without stopping a vehicle.
Proposals have also been submitted to allow members states to exchange information about driver cards. Recommendations on revising legislation text and giving clearer definitions on the recording of daily and weekly rest for example, are also being discussed.
Administration objectives have been chosen too, to measure the effectiveness of the changes; they include:
· Eliminating the most serious infringements by 2020
· Doubling the amount of infringements detected from road side checks by 2020.
What is clear moving forward is that these proposals are seeking to reinforce the position of law abiding vehicle operators and drivers, creating a more level playing field across the UK industry and more importantly across the whole of the EU and beyond into AETR countries.
Such is the significance of these EU proposals, Tachodisc has teamed up with Motor Transport to facilitate a Roundtable debate with UK operators this month. Titled ‘What price the next changes to Digital Tachographs and Drivers’ Hours Law?’ invited guests, which also include UK government representatives, will be given the opportunity to discuss and examine the measures being proposed. A report will follow in Motor Transport magazine and a White Paper containing all the findings and recommendations will be published on www.roadtransport.com and www.tachodisc.co.uk
TAC187