MEMBERS STATES APPROVE INTRODUCTION OF TRANSITIONAL SMART TACHOGRAPH
On 17 April, the European Commission’s Road Transport Committee, composed of Member States’ representatives advising the Commission on implementing acts, approved the draft implementing act on the technical specifications for the transitional smart tachograph version 2, which will be introduced as planned on 21 August 2023.
The version 2 of the smart tachograph was initially set to be introduced on this date, but a delay in the availability of satellite signals used to authenticate the positions recorded by the tachograph created technical and legal uncertainties. The implementing act which was approved by the Committee allows for the introduction of a “transitional tachograph”, which corresponds to all new functions brought by the tachograph version 2 except for the satellite authentication feature. The text also includes clarification that made the software update needed once the signal authentication deficiency is remedied voluntary, with the possibility for the European Commission to make proposals only upon further analysis demonstrating their necessity.
Following Member States’ endorsement of the draft implementing act, the European Commission will formally adopt the technical specifications and publish the text in the Official Journal of the EU.