A4-0106/97

Resolution on the report from the Commission on the implementation in 1991-1992 of Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 on the harmonization of certain social legislation relating to road transport (17th report by the Commission on the implementation of the social legislation relating to road transport)(COM(95)0713 - C4-0065/96)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the report from the Commission, COM(95)0713 - C4-0065/96,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A4-0106/97),

A. whereas the failure to observe the regulations on driving times and rest periods seriously distorts the rules on competition between the various modes of transport,

B. whereas this report is the first one to have been drawn up in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 and the decision of 22 February 1993 (Use of the Standard Form) and whereas the data from the various Member States have not been formalized,

C. having regard to the disturbing number of serious coach and lorry accidents caused by human error which is often the consequence of extreme fatigue and the unhealthy working conditions of HGV drivers,

D. whereas the rules on driving times and rest periods are concerned principally with road safety and, secondarily, with working hours,

E. having regard to the need for stringent standardized checks within the territory of the Community to help create proper, uniform competitive conditions for all road transport operators and to the possibility of and procedure for reducing tolls for hauliers from certain countries;

F. whereas the agreed standards have still not been achieved in a number of Member States,

G. whereas there is an obvious link between road safety and compliance with the social legislation applicable to the sector in so far as driving times and rest periods have a decisive influence over the physical and mental state which drivers are in when operating their coach or lorry,

H. whereas repressive measures cannot be the only means of ensuring compliance with the law,

1. Notes the considerable delay in the submission of the reports under consideration, covering the 1991-1992 and 1993-1994 periods;

2. Notes that some of the data in the Commission report are inconsistent and incomplete;

3. Insists, therefore, that the next report, covering the 1993-1994 period, should be submitted forthwith and should contain more consistent and comprehensive data;

4. Calls on the appropriate bodies within the individual Member States to do all they can to ensure that the Commission receives the data it needs more rapidly;

5. Observes that there are major disparities in the number and the nature of the checks carried out in the various countries;

6. Encourages the Commission to continue the task of harmonization and coordination which it has begun in this area in order to secure more consistent and mutually comparable data;

7. Calls on the Commission to instigate new legislation immediately to reduce the maximum limits on driving time laid down by Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85; asks the Commission to give due consideration to non-driving periods on duty and to work towards incorporating all the occupational activities of drivers in social legislation in order to create uniform competitive conditions and to take account of the general safety of other road-users and the health and safety of the workers themselves;

8. Calls for the number of working days to be checked to be made uniform, with a target of a fixed level of 2%;

9. Insists that more uniform fines having a deterrent effect should be imposed so as to ensure that the cost of breaking the law exceeds the financial gain therefrom;

10. Welcomes the imminent introduction of inviolable electronic chronotachographs, which will constitute an important means of control;

11. Calls upon the Commission to investigate possible use of technology such as that used in automatic road tolls as a means of continuous recording of driver information;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments of the Member States.