REMOTE TACHOGRAPH READING NOW MANDATORY ACROSS THE EU
Remote tachograph reading is now mandatory across the EU, enabled by the new Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) equipment, which all Member States are required to implement. This technology allows tachographs to be checked remotely, enhancing enforcement of driving time regulations across Europe.
Several countries, including Belgium, Germany, Poland, and France have already been using this equipment for some time. However, not all EU nations have fully implemented it yet. For instance, Hungary currently lacks DSRC equipment, and Lithuania plans to begin using it next year.
This mandate ensures that all European inspection authorities must now possess DSRC scanners. These devices enable inspectors to remotely check whether a driver has the correct driver card in the tachograph, detect any tampering attempts, and identify error messages, all of which could indicate tachograph fraud. The data collected allows inspectors to preselect vehicles for further inspection, ensuring that only those with potential violations are stopped.
With the latest version of the tachograph, the Smart Tacho 2.0, inspectors can now access detailed data on a driver's current and past driving times, including the time since the last 45-minute break, the longest driving time of the current week, and the total driving time over the past two weeks. This data significantly enhances the ability to monitor compliance with driving time regulations and improve road safety across the EU.