In Brief
Legislation
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Various legislation stories...
THE introduction in September this year of the Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) for all professional bus and coach drivers - including drivers of minibuses with nine seats or more – will be followed on September 10, 2009 with a similar qualification for professional drivers of light goods vehicles above 3.5 tonnes. The Driver CPC is being introduced across the European Union to provide better qualified and trained drivers to meet the ever-changing needs of the passenger transport and road haulage sectors, by recognising and accrediting the knowledge and skills required to drive professionally. It aims to improve road safety and make savings for the industry by reducing the number of accidents, encourage fuel-efficient driving and reducing vehicle wear and tear. Chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency Rosemary Thew said: “Better trained drivers should help to avoid the costs, both human and financial, of road accidents in the UK.” Further information is available at www.transportoffice.gov.uk
MEPS are demanding co-ordinated pan- European action to further drive down death and injury on roads across the continent. MEPs in the European Parliament are in the process of introducing legislation that will make cross border law enforcement easier. At the moment, drivers who commit road offences in a country they are visiting can often escape prosecution and fines because of complexities involved in tracking them down. In the future it could be possible for fines owed abroad to be paid with authorities in the driver’s home country tracking the offender down. Research for the European Commission shows that non-resident drivers account for a disproportionately high number of road traffic accidents - particularly speeding offences, but also drink-driving, not wearing a seat belt and failing to stop at red lights. The proposed legislation is part of a European Commission initiative to halve road deaths in Europe between 2001 and 2010. At the start of this decade they stood at 54,000 a year, the target is to bring them down to 27,000 by the end of this decade. Last year over 40,000 people lost their lives on Europe’s roads.
MOTORISTS, cyclists, pedestrians, highway authorities and road organisations have been urged to take part in the biggest review of British road signs for 40 years. The review will demonstrate how effective signing can provide safer roads and reduce accidents. It will also ensure that traffic signs keep pace with the latest technology, help to cut congestion and emissions and keep traffic moving safely and efficiently without cluttering the streets. It could also result in some road signs being removed to reduce ‘street clutter’ and as a result, it is suggested, make roads safer (RoadSafe: summer 2008). AA president Edmund King said: “Clear, concise, relevant road signs help reduce congestion, CO2, frustration and accidents. Confusing signs do the opposite.” A Department for Transport traffic signs policy review steering group is expected to deliver an action plan, for the review itself, by the middle of next year. The Department will then work directly with specialist working groups to develop policy proposals for consultation.