State faces legal action over EC driver training directive

The European Commission is to launch a legal battle against Ireland for its failure to implement a directive on the training of professional drivers, it announced today.

The EU order requires truck, bus and coach drivers to have certificates of professional competency and see professional motorists having to undertake a 35-hour training course every five years.

Although the directive won’t come into force until next September, the EC today said it has decided to bring a case against the State for its failure to transpose the directive.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) said work was advancing on the legislation, adding it was confident the directive would be implemented by the deadlines imposed.

The new rules will put more pressure on the organisation and the Department of Transport, which are already under pressure to put tens of thousands of learner drivers through their tests by the end of March.

“The 2003 directive aims to ensure minimum standards of training for drivers of certain buses and heavy goods vehicles,” said an EC spokeswoman.

“All EU Member States had until 10 September 2006 to transpose the directive into their national law.

“The European Commission issued a ”reasoned opinion“ to Ireland in June 2007 calling on Irish authorities to comply with the directive.

“However no measures have been taken to comply with the directive.”

The new rules will apply to drivers of passenger vehicles in all member states from September 2008, and heavy goods vehicle drivers from September 2009.

Proinsias De Rossa MEP called on the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, to explain why the Government has failed to enact the directive into Irish law – despite being issued with a final warning on June 27.

“This is an important road safety measure and there is no excuse for the Government’s failure in this regard,” he said.

“There were 46 deaths and 80 serious injuries as a result of crashes involving trucks or buses in 2005.

“Improving the skills of professional drivers will lead to fewer casualties on our roads giving greater protection to more vulnerable road users.”

The RSA said draft regulations have been prepared, with work advancing on the service delivery aspects necessary to introduce the new regime.

“The RSA is seeking legal advice on certain aspects of the legislation before the regulations are forwarded to the Department of Transport for transposition,” said a spokesman.

“The RSA has also engaged with the European Commission and advised on its progress regarding implementation of the Directive.

“The RSA and the Department of Transport are confident that the enabling regulations and supporting structures for the implementation of driver CPC will be in place for Ireland to meet the September 2008 deadline.”