Skip to main content

EU transport committee votes for cross-border enforcement of traffic offences

Motorists who speed, ignore red lights or drink and drive when in a European country other than their own will be brought to book more easily, thanks to closer cooperation between European police forces and EU-wide enforcement of traffic rules, under plans approved yesterday by the European Parliament's transport committee. However, the UK and Ireland decided not to opt in to the system, while Denmark is entitled to opt out because the Council changed the legal basis of the directive from "transport" to "po
May 18, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Motorists who speed, ignore red lights or drink and drive when in a European country other than their own will be brought to book more easily, thanks to closer cooperation between European police forces and EU-wide enforcement of traffic rules, under plans approved yesterday by the European Parliament's transport committee. However, the UK and Ireland decided not to opt in to the system, while Denmark is entitled to opt out because the Council changed the legal basis of the directive from "transport" to "police cooperation" at first reading.

Throughout the rest of the EC, traffic police authorities will be able to pursue offenders in their home country by using the Eurocaris data exchange system. Speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, failure to wear seatbelts, illegal use of mobile phones, using bus lanes, not wearing helmets when riding a motorcycle and crossing red lights are among the offences covered by the legislation.

Harmonising basic traffic rules and setting common standards for sanctions and enforcement procedures in future would help further reduce the death toll on Europe's roads, MEPs stressed during the debate ahead of the vote which was adopted yesterday by a large majority. The directive will enter into force at the latest two years after adoption and will be subject to close monitoring and assessment by the 1690 European Commission.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • HOTA approval for Vysionics’ level crossing red light enforcement
    June 18, 2015
    Vysionics has been working with the UK’s Network Rail on a development project to reduce the number of fatalities that occur on the rail network. This included the development of a new Home Office Type Approved (HOTA) device that allows for automatic, unattended enforcement of vehicles that misuse level crossings. Vysionics’ Vector LX level crossing red light enforcement system has been awarded HOTA certification and is now operational at sites across the UK; the first ever non-invasive solution to ac
  • Clear signs on inspection from EU Road Federation
    December 27, 2024
    Free checklist will help ensure ADAS systems work safely, ERF says
  • Cost benefit goes under the microscope
    August 21, 2017
    Conventional cost benefit analysis (CBA) of plans for urban smart mobility initiatives needs serious rethinking, according to a recently-completed European study. The three-year Evidence Project (the Project) emerged in response to concerns about the availability and quality of documented research – including CBA – required to prove that investment in sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) can be economically beneficial. Covering 22 sectors ranging from electric vehicles to shared spaces, the Project clai
  • FIA calls for swift implementation of real driving emissions
    February 4, 2016
    Now that the European Parliament voted to approve legislation to measure real driving emissions (RDE), FIA Region 1 has called for swift implementation and strengthened targets to restore consumer and decision-maker trust. RDE seeks to complement laboratory tests and check whether announced NOx emissions levels are confirmed in real driving conditions. However, the package includes a conformity factor of 2.1 whereby on-road vehicles would be allowed to emit more than twice the official limit from 2017 to