Foreign lorry safety - International enforcement database by 2010

An EU-wide electronic register of transport operators, linked to national databases, should be a reality by 2010, providing national enforcement agencies with the information they require in order to target their operations towards companies and vehicles with a history of breaching regulations. And companies losing their operating licence in one member state would lose it in every other EU country as well.

This announcement came from the EU Inland Transport Director Enrico Pasquarelli, speaking at a conference 'The Future of Enforcement for Commercial Road Transport in Europe', held in Brussels on 30 May. The conference had been jointly organised by the UK Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU). FTA has been particularly concerned regarding the safety record of foreign lorries operating on UK roads, where recent experience showed unsatisfactory performance regarding roadworthiness, overloading and drivers' hours regulations.

FTA Chief Executive Richard Turner, who has campaigned for a sharing of data across the EU, warmly welcomed the announcement which, he said, reflected his vision for 'free movement of enforcement' in Europe. Turner said, 'We've got enough laws - we don't need any more. What we need to do now is to ensure that they are evenly enforced. We need to ensure that high standards are adopted by all, not just the best operators. Sadly, at present a significant minority leave their standards of behaviour behind when they are away from their home country, secure in the knowledge that the authorities cannot touch them. A Europe-wide database, and targeting of known offenders, should end that.'

FTA has welcomed the UK Government's actions to increase roadside enforcement, announced in the Budget in March, and next year's introduction of the Road Safety Act, which will result in roadside fines. Richard Turner said, 'The UK Government is to be congratulated on the steps it is taking. However, real long-term progress will only be achieved if offences committed on foreign territory are visible and transmitted back home.'