Brussels, 02/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 2 March, the Council unanimously and without debate adopted the new directive introducing the sharing of information among member states on certain road traffic offences. This will allow member states to impose fines on nationals of other member states who break the highway code within their borders.
The road traffic offences covered are: speeding, not using a seatbelt, failing to stop at red lights, drink driving, driving under the influence of drugs, not wearing a safety helmet, using a forbidden lane, and illegally using a mobile phone, or any other communications device, while driving. Information-sharing had already been possible, thanks to a European directive adopted in 2011. The Court of Justice of the EU overturned the directive in 2014, however, after it ruled that the legal basis used - police cooperation - was not the correct one and called for the new legal basis to be transport. This change of legal basis annulled the opt-out from the directive enjoyed by Denmark, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The new directive was approved by the European Parliament on 11 February 2015 (see EUROPE 11251). The member states have until 6 May 2015 to incorporate it into national law. Because of their previous opt-out, Denmark, the UK and Ireland will have two more years to adopt their national provisions. According to the European Commission drivers are three times more likely to commit a road traffic offence abroad than at home. European Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc has indicated that the Commission will assess the effectiveness of the directive by November 2016. (Jean Comte)