Tachograph
As technology develops, rules surrounding vehicle equipment must evolve too. Therefore, relevant HGVs and other commercial vehicles registered from 15 June 2019 will be legally required to have smart tachographs fitted. The features found in this new technology will provide many benefits, but fleet operators must make sure any vehicles on order have a smart tachograph fitted in time for the deadline, or else face expensive consequences.
Digital tachographs have been required in commercial vehicles weighing over 3,500 kgs since 2006, recording information about driving time, speed and distance covered. The data files generated by tachographs must be retained by drivers and employers, so that they can be produced if asked for by transport authorities. This information is used to ensure drivers follow the rules on drivers’ hours, which are nine hours in a day, 56 hours in a week and 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks.
Although the aim of tachographs is to keep drivers, and other road-users, safe, tampering has always been a problem. Drivers’ hours rules are there to stop people operating vehicles when overtired, putting themselves and others at risk. However, it is known that many drivers tamper with their tachographs in order to be able to drive for longer than is legal, triggering the change in law.
The new ‘smart’ tachographs will have multiple features that current digital tachographs lack. These features include: a connection to the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) facility; a new speed sensor, an Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) interface; sealing requirements; and Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC).
GNSS allows records of vehicle location to be taken at the beginning and end of a journey, with updates every three hours. The data created can then be accessed remotely by transport authorities. If there appears to be a possible infringement, the DSRC can then be used to allow road inspection officers to communicate with the smart tachograph. This can be done without the driver having to stop the vehicle, and if no infringement is discovered the driver may continue their journey without a roadside inspection. For confidentiality, if no issues are detected, authorities must delete the data within three hours and the DSRC cannot be used for automated fines. Having access to ‘real time’ communication will make tampering much more difficult, ensuring accurate records are kept and improving driver safety.
Fleet operators that have vehicles currently on order must check that they are to be fitted with smart tachographs in time for the deadline. Even if a vehicle is scheduled to be delivered before 15 June, if a delay occurs and the vehicle is non-compliant, then a smart tachograph will need to be fitted retrospectively, potentially costing larger fleet operators thousands of pounds.
However, it is in the best interests of all fleet operators to have smart tachographs fitted. They will reduce the amount of time taken up by administration and stop unnecessary roadside inspections that waste drivers’ time. Both productivity and efficiency will increase, and fleet operators can be sure that their drivers are following legal driving hours and being safe in doing so.
For fleet vehicles that are not yet required to have a smart tachograph, fitting a tracking system is an alternative option. Location, speed and distance are also recorded by tracking systems, with the GPS function keeping information constantly updated. All data can be accessed by fleet operators at any time, as long as there is internet available, allowing them to keep an eye on driving hours themselves.
The tachograph law will benefit both employers and drivers through minimising administration tasks and keeping drivers productive as well as safe. Tachographs have always been a useful tool to help keep track of drivers’ working hours, but these upgrades are necessary to ensure that tampering is stopped once and for all, keeping both the drivers themselves, and other road users, safe on the road.
The author Scott Chesworth is operations director at RAM Tracking
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