Road transport: recording equipment, tachograph

OBJECTIVE: To provide for compulsory installation of an additional device to the recording equipment (tachograph) currently used by drivers in order to improve application and respect for social legislation in the road transport sector. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation (EC) 2135/98 amending Regulation (EEC) 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport and Directive 88/599/EEC. NOAMSUBSTANCE: The regulation aims principally to improve the existing system (tachograph) by adding a device enabling the main data required for monitoring driving and rest times to be stored numerically on a driver's memory card. The regulation provides for compulsory installation of entirely digital recording equipment complying with the specifications laid down in Annex IB on all new vehicles from 1 July 2000 if all the conditions are fulfilled, in particular certain technical specifications detailed in Annex IB must be adopted if possible by 1 July 1998 by the type IIIa committee procedure. The regulation also provides for: - each Member State to grant EC component type-approval to recording equipment conforming to the technical requirements laid down in Annex IB; - shared responsibility between employers and drivers for correct functioning and proper use of the system; - precise conditions for issuing driver cards (normal residence criterion), for the length of validity of the card and the conditions under which it may be replaced, renewed, mutually recognised, exchanged, suspended or withdrawn; - recording of the data required to monitor compliance with the regulation for at least 365 days; - recording of the symbol of the country where drivers begin their daily work period and of the country where they finish; - arrangements for roadside checks which take account of the two systems co-existing (vehicles with recording systems complying with Annex I and those with systems complying with Annex IB may both be in operation); - a system which sets the date of compulsory installation of recording equipment complying with Annex IB (and the issuing by the Member States of driver cards) depending on the date of publication in the Official Journal and certain technical requirements specified in Annex IB (if possible by 1 July 1998); - the requirement for some vehicles already in operation to replace their existing recording device with a device complying with the provisions of Annex IB, if the former is defective. The modifications to Directive 88/559/EEC aim principally to: - not discriminate at roadside checks between drivers of vehicles fitted with the current recording system (with a disc) and drivers of vehicles fitted with recording systems conforming with Annex IB and driver cards; - enable the authorities to monitor on their own premises data recorded by recording systems conforming with Annex IB and driver cards. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 10/10/98�