Is enforcement of driver’s hours working?

Posted by fionastewart on 23rd Mar 2016

Figures reported in February this year reveal that prosecutions for drivers’ hours and tachograph offences fell by almost 30% in 2015. Figures disclosed in recent parliamentary question and answer sessions reveal that there were just 2,861 prosecutions brought during 2014/15, down from 4,050 in 2013/14. However, over the same period, the total number of drivers’ hours and tachograph offences detected by the enforcement agency soared by 48% to 15,183. The main reason for the drop in prosecutions appears to be the DVSA’s intent on dealing with all but the most serious offences with fixed penalties. This frees up the agency and court’s time and makes more efficient use of the enforcement resources available.  With these figures you can make a case for the enforcement policy working or not. But with over 15,000 offences one thing is absolutely clear and that is that drivers’ hours and tachograph offences are still a big issue for the industry. Tachograph analysis software to help operators manage their compliance with drivers’ hours has been around for many years now and even the smallest fixed penalty fine would give an operator the means to ensure their compliance for years. If you are not taking advantage of technology to manage your compliance with drivers' hours see Smartanalysis, it could save you time, money and headaches!