Road transport: recording equipment, tachograph

The Committee adopted the draft recommendation for second reading under the cooperation procedure by Florus WIJSENBEEK (NL, ELDR) on the Council's common position on future recording equipment in road transport (tachograph). Committee members had to decide if the improved classical tachograph (type 1A) should remain under the scope of the new regulations. In the common position, all Member States, with the exception of Germany, are in favour of only introducing type 1B which is the new digital equipment. Mr WIJSENBEEK felt that the possibility for Member States to choose between the two types should remain. He argued that Council still provides ample opportunity for the contained use of the present tachograph, since Member States which had recently joined had had to introduce the tachograph on acceding to the Community. The committee's choice for type 1A or 1B was not clear this morning. Mr WIJSENBEEK said he would not be surprised if Parliament in plenary would probably opt only for the introduction of the new type of digital tachograph. Amendments were also adopted concerning the issuing of cards by the competent authorities to drivers, inspectors and garage owners, and the procedure to be followed when the drivers card is missing or defective.�