EU urged to green-light revised cross-border enforcement proposal

Road safety campaigners and European traffic police have welcomed the agreement by EU transport ministers to back a change to rules on cross-border enforcement of traffic offences such as speeding. This comes on the heels of an Institute of Advanced Motorists report that 23,295 overseas drivers have escaped UK speeding penalties since January 2014. The European Commission published a revised cross-border enforcement law in July in response to a European Court of Justice ruling in May that said the exi
October 9, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Road safety campaigners and European traffic police have welcomed the agreement by EU transport ministers to back a change to rules on cross-border enforcement of traffic offences such as speeding.

This comes on the heels of an 6187 Institute of Advanced Motorists report that 23,295 overseas drivers have escaped UK speeding penalties since January 2014.

The 1690 European Commission published a revised cross-border enforcement law in July in response to a European Court of Justice ruling in May that said the existing rules, which only came into force in November last year, were adopted on an incorrect legal basis. The European Court of Justice has said the current law could remain in effect until May 2015 while new legislation is agreed.

Antonio Avenoso, executive director of the 3535 European Transport Safety Council said: "These rules mean that foreign-registered drivers are no longer able to ignore traffic laws safe in the knowledge that they won't be penalised when they return home. They are a smart way of deterring people from dangerous driving when they go abroad but will also help member states follow up on traffic offences when drivers put other people's lives at risk.

"But the clock is ticking because the current rules, which have already been implemented in most countries, will expire if the EU can't agree on this new legal proposal before May 2015.  In reality, the changes rest on a legal technicality, so we urge MEPs and transport ministers to reach an agreement as soon as possible. With 500 deaths on EU roads on average every week, there is no time to waste."

European Traffic Police Network (650 TISPOL) president Aidan Reid commented: "Cross border enforcement is a vital tool for police officers in the road safety work they carry out, and to ensure that there is no more driving away from justice. We have already seen examples of Cross Border Enforcement bringing very encouraging results in countries where arrangements for reciprocal sharing of information are already in place. Make no mistake; this law will save hundreds of lives on Europe's roads each year."
Enforcement Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • Electronic vehicle registration ensures payment
    February 2, 2012
    Like most countries, Bermuda recognised that it was losing revenue through non-compliance with vehicle registration regulations and was equally concerned about vehicles that were not properly insured or put through annual inspections. Indeed, the tiny island state, with a population of around 65,000 people and some 30,000 vehicles, estimated it was losing more than US$1.4 million per year in tax-based revenue since approximately 8 per cent of vehicle owners were cheating the system.
    Read More
  • MEPs call for action to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion
    December 3, 2015
    Ambitious emissions limits and a timeframe for real-world emissions testing should be set, say MEPs in a resolution on sustainable urban mobility adopted on Wednesday. Reliable public transport, car-sharing as well as ICT-enabled traffic management and working practices would help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. Measures to improve conditions for cycling and walking should be taken, they add.
    Read More
  • UK approval for Redflex fixed enforcement systems
    September 25, 2013
    Redflex Traffic Systems has received UK Home Office type approval (HOTA) for its suite of fixed red light and speed enforcement systems, comprising REDFLEXred, REDFLEXspeed and REDFLEXred-speed. Although the system accurately captures intersection red light, speed or simultaneous red light and speed offences, Home Office approval has been given for single red light and speed offences only. Speeding through a green light will be seen as a speed offence; crossing a red light will carry the usual red light
    Read More
  • Sharjah Police record 500 per cent increase in heavy vehicle traffic violations
    October 18, 2016
    The Traffic and Patrol Department of Sharjah Police has successfully increased road safety since the beginning of last year by utilising technologies new to the United Arab Emirates, designed to manage truck and heavy vehicle movements in the emirate - the highlight of their recent submission in to the Gulf Traffic Awards taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 13-15 November. Issues with heavy vehicles passing through the city without permits and other restricted zones have been a recurring pro
    Read More

Highlighted Content