TRUCK DRIVER HOURS TO BE MONITORED BY NEW DIGITAL TRACKING SYSTEM

 

 

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 Jim Higgins MEP Professional HGV drivers will enjoy safer working conditions 3 years from now with the introduction of more efficient road transport recording equipment, known as tachographs, approved by the European Parliament, according to Midlands-North-West MEP Jim Higgins. Speaking in Strasbourg, MEP Jim Higgins, who is Ireland's representative on the European Parliament Transport Committee, said "Today MEPs have given their backing to a revision of the Tachograph Regulation, which dates back to 1985".

 

The revision aims to combat fraud, enforce better working conditions for professional drivers and save European transport companies up to €515 million per year by reducing administrative burdens.""The new regulation, to be introduced in January 2017, will also ensure fair competition and a level playing-field among transport companies, many of which are SMEs. Rogue operators will be driven out," said Higgins. "There is a need for increased awareness of the issue of driver fatigue across the transport industry. For the first time, there will Europe-wide standardised training for the Police Officers who carry out checks on such vehicles.

 

""The European Commission has found that up to 45,000 vehicles are in breach of EU tachograph rules at any one time. Breaches include not adhering to minimum rest periods or maximum driving times, resulting in fatigued drivers and increased road safety risks. The new laws go some way to improving this situation," Jim Higgins concluded.