ECR Conference Dublin

CALL FOR EU MEMBER STATES TO ENSURE ROAD TRANSPORT ENFORCEMENT REMAINS A ROAD SAFETY PRIORITY

Tuesday 18 June 2013: Euro Contrôle Route (ECR), the working group that represents European national transport inspection services and Ireland’s Road Safety Authority (RSA) have called on EU Member States to provide additional manpower to National Inspectorates and Police forces for road traffic enforcement of commercial operators (buses and goods vehicles).

The conference took place in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, in Dublin, Ireland.

Significant progress has been achieved across the EU over recent times in relation to improving road safety across all road transport modes as a consequence of   improving vehicle safety, improving road infrastructure and improving road users' behaviour.

However, the current economic challenge has placed pressure on the resources of all Member States.  Therefore all enforcement agencies need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of enforcement. Concerted action is needed by all EU Member States to ensure that road transport enforcement remains a road safety priority.
In addition to the provision of extra resources ECR also called on EU Member States to use smarter enforcement by availing of new technologies to improve the targeting of operators who break the law.

At the conference ECR delegates also recognised that getting operators to obey road transport laws, cannot be achieved by relying on roadside enforcement alone; other strategies needed to be put in place by EU Member States to ensure that operators and drivers are fully aware of the law and the serious consequences of manipulation of tachographs (which records a vehicles driving time) and breaches of the EU rules on driving times, breaks and rest periods.

The Judicial system also needed to understand the harmful consequences of breaches of these road safety rules for road safety and fair competition amongst operators.

The Conference welcomed the cooperation that already exists between National Inspectorates and Police Forces in relation to enforcement of road safety rules relating to the use and operation of large commercial vehicles. However there is room for further progress to be made in relation to exchanges of information, training and sharing of resources.

The conference “Efficient and Effective Road Transport Enforcement at a Time of Financial Crisis” was held as part of Ireland’s Presidency of ECR and organised with the collaboration of all members of Euro Contrôle Route. 
The Conference was attended by police forces and national enforcement agencies involved in road transport enforcement across the EU. It provides an opportunity to discuss the various challenges and reflect on experiences and lessons learned from research and enforcement practices being implemented across Europe.

For further information please contact
ECR coordinator, Ann De Vries, a.devries@benelux.int
 

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