FUTURE LEGISLATION
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1,A; 1994 Budget—extensive reform of Vehicle Excise duty with changes to several tax classes and elimination of many concessions. Implementation of tax changes in July 1995. Revisions to proposals possible before then.
• "Bridge bashing"—revised proposals are awaited from the Department of Transport • Operator licensing—major changes to the 0Licence system included in Deregulation—and Contracting-Out Act 1994. Implementation unlikely before late 1995.
• Review or UK domestic drivers' hours legislation—proposals for deregulation ore still under consideration by the Deoartment of Transport. Also, regulations wil shortly be produced granting exemption from EU hours rules for vehicles used only within airports and for abnormal load carrying vehicles when escorted by police.
• Vehicle excise duty—continuous licensing for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight even if laid up off the public road. Formal consultation expected soon; implementation proposed for 1997.
• Second EU Directive on driver licensing. Measures currently under consultation include the introduction of photocard driving licences staged testing, a theory element in the driving test and the effective lowering of the LGV threshold to 3.5 tonnes for new drivers only Implementation on 1 July 1996.
• Eyesight requirements—proposals for changes to rules for vocational drivers which will affect some existing drivers, • Dangerous rods transport—Draft legislation revising UK aangerous goods vehicle carrier legislation to align with ADR Agreement as required by ADR Framework Directive, is expected in spring 1995, with possible implementation July 1996.
• Width limit—proposed increase of current width limit of vehicles from 2.5m to 2.55m. Limit of 2,6m for refrigerated vehicles unchanged. Under consultation.
• Height limit—proposal to remove 4.2m height limit presently applying to vehicles over 35 tonnes Wth fixed bodywork. Under consultation.
• London Local Authorities Bill—includes powers for local authority officers in London to stop vehicles and conduct emission tests. Bill presently in draft form. Opposition from FTA, RHA, AA and RAC to proposal to allow nonpolice officers to stop vehicles.
• Channel tunnel Rail Link Bill—authorises construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and widening of the westernmost section of the M2. Environment Bill—introduced on 1 December. Includes powers to set up Environment Agencies in England, Wales and Scotland. Also amends contaminated land legislation and introduces producer responsibility powers. • Petrol Vapour Recovery—implementation of EU Directive on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during petrol distribution. Requirements apply to storage terminals, service stations and mobile road and rail tankers.
• M25 Variable Speed Limits—Regulations to enforce variable speed limits (on trial between junctions 10 and 15 of M25 from Spring 95)
EC Legislative Initiatives
• Vehicle weights and dimension harmonisation throughout EU. Under discussion.
• Second Generation tachographs—amending regulations have been formally adopted by the European Commission which provide for an additional smart card unit to work with existing equipment. Under consultation—news expected mid 1995.
• Animal Transport—EU considering proposals for implementing directives on travelling time, feeding/watering requirements and vehicle construction standards.
• Road transport taxation—Council of Ministers decision on minimum VED rates, road user charges and liberalisation of cabotage operations.
• CO2/Energy Tax—the Council of Ministers has agreed that EU member states may set up unilateral CO2/Energy taxes. Guidelines on such taxes are to be drawn up by the Commission. Proposals for a carbon tax directive are likely to be withdrawn.
• Dangerous goods—Risk Prevention Officer Directive now re-named "Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser Directive." The draft requires companies involved in the road, rail or inland waterway transport of dangerous goods to appoint a trained dangerous goods safety adviser. Probable adoption during 1995 with possible transitional periods to 2000
• Dangerous goods—The ADR Framework Directive was adopted by the European Council in November 1994. The Directive requires countries to implement national dangerous goods rules in line with ADR Agreement by 1.1.97.
• Dangerous goods—EU Quality Assurance Scheme The European Standards Organisation (CEN) has been mandated by the Commission to develop a voluntary quality assurance standard for all dangerous goods carriers with existing Dutch standards being used as a base test for development. CEN Technical Committee 320 (TC320) has established a working group to develop the standard. The Freight Transport Association is co-ordinating UK Working Group activities. The Commission requires presentation of draft CEN standard by July 1995.