The European Parliament votes to accept Pan-European enforcement

In a landmark move, the European parliament has voted to approve Pan-European enforcement of traffic laws. This will allow police forces across Europe to share information on foreign motorists who break road traffic rules. No longer will offenders be able to dodge fines and other penalties for driving offences while committed abroad. The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) and TISPOL – the European Traffic Police Network have both welcomed this move Non-resident drivers account for approximately 5% of
February 11, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
RSS

In a landmark move, the European parliament has voted to approve Pan-European enforcement of traffic laws. This will allow police forces across Europe to share information on foreign motorists who break road traffic rules. No longer will offenders be able to dodge fines and other penalties for driving offences while committed abroad. The 1197 European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) and 4753 TISPOL – the European Traffic Police Network have both welcomed this move
Non-resident drivers account for approximately 5% of road traffic in the EU but are responsible for 15% of speeding offences, according to 2465 European Commission figures. The law is expected to save at least 400 lives/year. The new rules cover offences including speeding, drink driving, using a mobile phone at the wheel and ignoring red lights.

Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said, “Today’s vote will help put an end to the injustice of foreign drivers escaping traffic penalties while locals get punished for the same offence. This is a long overdue change. The deterrent effect is important, knowing that you can be caught plays a key role in preventing dangerous driving.”

The law will come into effect in most EU countries later this year; Denmark, Ireland and the UK will have two additional years. Those three countries opted-out of an earlier version of the rules, but agreed to back a new proposal after the European Court of Justice ruled last year that the legal basis had to be changed. The rules are also set to be reviewed in 2016.

TISPOL General Secretary Ruth Purdie commented, “The next step will be to improve enforcement of traffic laws across the EU, starting with minimum standards for large-scale, regular and visible police enforcement actions on the three main causes of death: speeding, failure to wear a seat belt and drink driving.”

The European Parliament's vote is the culmination of a seven-year legislative process and today’s positive result is thanks in no small part to several MEPs who have fought tirelessly for stronger enforcement of road safety rules across the EU. Inés Ayala Sender, a Spanish MEP, deserves particular credit for shepherding this law through the EU decision-making process since it was first proposed in 2008.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • FOI request reveals “shocking” amount of uninsured UK drivers
    July 30, 2013
    One in every 100 people in the UK with a full driving licence has points for driving uninsured, according to a “shocking” Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists). For all ages the request, directed to the DVLA, revealed that one in every 200 people with a full UK driving licence had been penalised for driving without insurance. A total of 226,803 drivers in the UK were said under FOI to have points on their licence for driving while uninsured.
    Read More
  • UK's biggest review of traffic signs in 40 years
    April 26, 2012
    Unnecessary government bureaucracy will be tackled and costs for local councils reduced following the biggest review into Britain's traffic signing system for 40 years, which was announced by transport minister Norman Baker. The government hopes that the review will dramatically reduce the number of signs councils need to use by relaxing rules, such as by removing the requirement for some signs, including those to indicate the start of a pedestrian zone, to be placed on both sides of the road. The new measu
    Read More
  • IAM pollsters support traffic light risk system for driving on prescription drugs
    October 16, 2013
    Just half of drivers feel prescription drug labelling is clear enough on medicines, according to the latest poll by road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Earlier this year, the government announced that a drug-driving bill will be introduced and will include chemicals which can be found in prescription drugs. Almost a third of respondents suggest that a simple traffic-light system would be the best method to inform people of the risks of using prescription drugs when driving.
    Read More
  • TISPOL president Ken Ricour discusses policy on video
    October 22, 2013
    President of the Pan-European police body Ken Ricour discussed key achievements in the year since he took this post. Road safety is a key issue for TISPOL and the group has placed this as a priority for action. Success has been achieved in areas such as reducing speeding and drink driving, while a new focus has been placed on improving safety for vulnerable road users also.
    Read More

Highlighted Content