Brussels, 03/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - Violations of the social rules of road transport relate mainly to insufficient stopping time (29%) or break time (24%) and excessive driving time (19%). This has been shown by a biannual report published by the European Commission at the end of September on the basis of data compiled by the member states in 2009 and 2010. The conclusion is that the bottom line in respect of the European social rules in road transport appears encouraging.
European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas said “the results of effective European cooperation in this field are clear: better understanding of the rules, better application and fewer infringements”. As a result, the working conditions are “safer for all drivers” and “roads safer for the whole of Europe”, he said.
The report shows increasing controls carried out by the member states: with the exception of five countries, all exceeded the minimum required by European legislation. However, these controls were focused along the roadside and not on site, even though checks of this kind are five times more effective, the report calculates. The proportion of infringements of the rules is similar to the year 2007-2008, but the frequency of infringements detected is down. Noting strong disparities between member states in terms of detection rates, the Commission calls on the member states to be vigilant and to ensure that these differences are not a result of misinterpretation or incorrect application of the social rules. On the basis of this encouraging observation, Kallas says that “we must not drop our guard but continue to work for an even better implementation of these rules”. (MD/transl.fl)