More road safety and less red tape and fraud

Truck and bus drivers who disregard rules on driving time and rest periods not only put road safety at risk, but also expose other carriers to unfair competition. At the Transport Council on 6 October, ministers held a debate on the revision of the tachograph rules proposed by the Commission.

© Finn Bjerremand, Danmarks Transport-Tidende

The tachograph is an instrument that records all of a vehicle's activities, for example distance, speed and driving time, and breaks and rest periods taken by the driver. Its aim is to protect drivers, improve road safety and prevent fraud.

It would cut red tape for companies if the digital tachographs, introduced in new trucks and buses in 2006, were to record the start and end locations of vehicles through the GPS system. This would make the current manual recording unnecessary. Basic information delivered by remote communication from the tachograph would enable better tergating of roadside checks. The authorities would always have the choice between remote controls and roadside checks. Roadside checks are more costly to businesses, as they immobilise vehicles.

Member states consider that the current system, used by some 900 000 transport businesses and 6 million drivers, presents some vulnerabilities in relation to manipulation and fraud. They agree that these problems need to be addressed. Today, an estimated 45 000 vehicles using a tachograph do not respect the rules. Member states also want the administrative costs of transport businesses reduced. 

More information:
Press release (pdf)
Public debate
Press conference webcast