[PR] New EU Road Safety Laws for Bus & Coach Drivers

Victor

http://www.rsa.ie/NEWS/News/Navigation.html?PHPSESSID=c65132520dfed42dca769cc7a59a89ac

New EU Road Safety Laws for Bus & Coach Drivers

New EU Regulations to promote road safety for bus and coach drivers come into force on Wednesday 10th September 2008. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for introducing these changes to the way professional drivers of buses and coaches are licensed in Ireland.

From 10th September 2008, all bus and coach drivers who drive for a living will be required to have a new Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC).

A person applying for a bus licence on or after 10th September 2008 will now be required to pass a further theory and practical driving test in addition to the ordinary bus driving test if they wish to become a professional bus driver.

Any drivers holding a valid full licence in the bus licence category on or before 9th September 2008 are automatically entitled to the new Driver CPC.

All drivers who hold a Driver CPC, whether by sitting the new tests or by acquired rights will be required to complete a 35 hour training programme during the following five years in order to retain the Driver CPC. This will consist of a one day training programme per year over the five years.

Mr Noel Brett, Chief Executive Road Safety Authority said that “These new changes are being introduced in all European Union Member States on the 10th September 2008, as part of a Europe-wide initiative to improve road safety and recognise the particular responsibility bus drivers have for the safety of their passengers. Similar rules will be introduced for professional truck drivers in September 2009,”

He added that, “We have completed a regulatory impact assessment of these regulations on the industry and have been in regular communication with the industry through a comprehensive consultation programme for the past eighteen months. We are confident that the industry will embrace the new certification as part of their commitment to saving lives on our roads and improving the quality of service for their customers,” he said.

Anyone wishing to become a professional bus or coach driver will now be required to pass a special Driver CPC theory test, which is in two parts. The first part has 100 multiple choice questions. The second part consists of three Case Studies of situations that a driver might face and on which he or she will be required to answer questions.
After 10th September 2008, the driving test for those getting a bus licence and who want to drive professionally will include a CPC practical test.

This test is 30 minutes long and will include a number of questions covering different aspects of driving, relating to knowledge of safety, passenger comfort, legal matters relating to driving, vehicle loading and stability, and ability to deal with an emergency.

In order to keep up to date on vehicle safety issues, safe driving, environmentally friendly driving, assessments of risk, health and safety and vehicle technical developments, all professional drivers will be required to train for 35 hours every five years (seven hours per year). If at the end of five years the driver has not completed the 35 hour training programme, the CPC will not be renewed and the driver will not be able to work professionally.

Drivers of vehicles for non-commercial purposes are exempt from the CPC test. They include those who drive as a volunteer, drivers of emergency or rescue vehicles, drivers of vehicles while delivering driving instruction, drivers of vehicles used by a driver in the course of his/her work provided that driving the vehicle is not the driver’s principal occupation. Motorists wishing to obtain a bus licence for private use are also exempt and can apply for a bus driving licence in the normal way.

The practical knowledge test will cost €32 while the CPC theory test will be €140.

EU Regulations extending the requirement for a truck driver to hold a Driver CPC will come into force from September 2009.

A detailed questions and answers document (http://www.rsa.ie/SERVICES/upload/File/Vehicle%20Standards/CPC%20FAQ%20_2_.pdf) plus a booklet (http://www.rsa.ie/Home/upload/File/Veh%20Stds/CPC%20Booklet.pdf) and leaflet (http://www.rsa.ie/Home/upload/File/Veh%20Stds/CPC%20Leaflet.pdf) on the new Driver Certificate of Professional Competence is available to download from www.rsa.ie

ENDS

For general information on CPC please contact: CPC Unit: (096) 25015 or locall 1890 50 60 80

shanem2012

This is more money making bull****. Truck drivers have to do a theory then a hard pratical test. More and more tests is not going to make a difference. Its down to experience on the road. Governments of today are so out of touch with reality.

Victor

shanem2012 wrote: »

This is more money making bull****. Truck drivers have to do a theory then a hard pratical test. More and more tests is not going to make a difference. Its down to experience on the road. Governments of today are so out of touch with reality.

I disagree. More and more HGV drivers are saying "I didn't know the rules" after they have been involved in an incident.