Brussels, 17/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - The International Road Transport Union (IRU) gave a chilly welcome to the informal agreement reached, on Tuesday 14 May, regarding review of the tachograph regulation (see EUROPE 10846 and 10847), as further exemptions have been considered for the use of this device which controls the driving and rest times of professional drivers.
Michael Nielsen, the general delegate for the association with the EU, gave his reaction on Thursday 16 May, drawing attention to the fact that “it is important to remain vigilant to any distortions of competition or complications to enforcement procedures resulting from exemptions to these new rules”. It is in fact foreseen that non-professional drivers of heavy goods vehicles of under 7.5 tonnes should be exempted from having to use the device within a 100 km radius around the place where their business or firm is located. This measure aims to protect non-industrial craftsmen in particular.
In another vein, the IRU was delighted by the new regulation published by the European Commission on 15 May regarding the dissemination of information relating to secure parking places for lorries (see EUROPE 10846). Nielsen took the view that this is “fantastic news that will directly benefit road transport operators and drivers! (…) For many years, member states have failed to make this information available, but will now, finally, be forced to cooperate”. The IRU considers this will make it possible to help the transport sector fight against cargo crime and attacks on drivers. (MD/transl.jl)