The European Union is learning fast from local municipalities and city governments in Europe that make criminals out of drivers to fill their empty coffers. A new rule is to come into effect today that makes criminals out of a huge number of transport and bus tour operators throughout the EU.
Professional drivers must rest more and spend less time on the roads: the EU has raised the prescribed daily minimum resting time from 8 hours to 9 to enhance traffic safety. From today, every driver may sit at the wheel a maximum of 54 hours per week; so far upto 74 hours were allowed.
Exceptions, that allowed travel bus drivers to drive on upto 12 consecutive days, will be discontinued. A longer refresher break of 45 continuous hours is now also mandated every two weeks. Effective immediately, the employers will be accountable for infringements in all EU nations.
At the same time, the checks will be beefed up. This way, penalties can now be handed out independent of the EU country where the infringement took place. (translation mine)
The rule has to be enforced through legislation in each EU country separately, resulting in the German transport ministry having to work under pressure to formalize it so that it can be passed before the parliamentary summer break.
The EU reasons that this rule will reduce the number of accidents on European highways, since 20% of all major crashes involving trucks and buses take place due to fatigue. By this rule, claims the EU Commission, the drivers could enjoy social advances, the companies would get fair competition rules and the highways would be safer for all.
Whether the seemingly arbitrary mandates on the duration of breaks for drivers makes streets safer or for that matter enhances transport competition, makes drivers happier or consumers better off are empirical questions. Questions also include whether certain types of transport operators benefit over others in the new regime, or how the rules affect the market for truck drivers. They may even benefit those companies whose internal policies already comply with the rule and reduce competition by increasing barriers to entry. The broader point is, the EU should not be monetizing what people do or not do with their time, nor should it be dealing with uncertainties.
Insurance companies and participants in highway traffic may or may not be in a better position to judge risks of accidents than the EU Commission in Brussels, but they certainly have much greater incentives to mitigate those risks.
This might sound like a small issue, but is just another symptom of the creeping central planning in the European political economy.
Filed under: European Union, Incentives, Liberty | Leave a Comment
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