Period of tolerance for digital tachograph

Publication date: 12 August 2005

The Commission has decided to grant a final period of tolerance for the introduction of the digital tachograph until 31 December 2005. The legal deadline for the introduction of the digital tachograph had been extended until 5 August 2005 but an extra period of tolerance is needed. The digital tachograph must be legally recognised and accepted by all Member States from 5 August onwards.

Vice-President Jacques Barrot, in charge of Transport policy, has recently written to the Member States and to the Transport Committee in the EP to explain the Commission’s position on the introduction of the digital tachograph. The Commission is of the opinion that the rapid introduction of the digital tachograph is of utmost importance to the EU, not only for the enforcement of driving and rest times of professional drivers but also for the improvement of road safety and the guarantee of fair competition.

In its letter to the Member States of 21 April 2004, the Commission had already announced a moratorium to extend the deadline for the introduction of the digital tachograph from 5 August 2004 (the legal deadline fixed in Council Regulation (CE) 2135/98) to 5 August 2005.This decision was justified by the delays encountered by the tachograph manufacturers in obtaining type approval for their devices. This additional period should also have allowed the Member States to take all the legislative, technical and administrative measures needed. Finally, the aim of the moratorium was to ensure that Member States would not issue penalties to drivers of foreign vehicles entering their respective territories without a digital tachograph.

Since then, most of the problems encountered last year have been solved. All tachograph manufacturers have now obtained type approval for their equipment. They have started production, and are now able to supply vehicle manufacturers with enough equipment to meet their needs. The vehicle manufacturers have started to prepare their new production lines and the first vehicles fitted with digital tachographs have been delivered to the dealers. Most Member States have set up the necessary legal frameworks and practical arrangements. A number of Member States have also started to issue the tachograph cards. In short, the investments made by the industry and the efforts made by the Member States enable the introduction of the digital tachograph as of today. From 5 August onwards, as foreseen, this equipment must be legally recognised and accepted by all Member States.

However, a certain number of Member States would like a final transitional period in which to finish putting in place the national legislation necessary for the general and compulsory introduction of digital tachographs and the parallel elimination of the analogue tachographs on new vehicles.

To this end, after consultation with all stakeholders and a discussion in the Transport Council at the end of June, the Commission considers it reasonable to grant a final period of tolerance until 31 December 2005.

In consequence, until that date, the Commission will abstain from initiating infringement procedures against Member States for a failure to introduce the digital tachograph on new vehicles. Member States may continue to permit the use of analogue tachographs on vehicles registered up until 31 December 2005, including those registered on the territory of another Member State.

Related News Items:
- Social Legislation in Road Transport and Digital Tachographs (13 April 2005)
- Compulsory use of tachographs: MEPs call for postponement (15 March 2005)
- Installation of Digital Tachographs postponed (29 April 2004)