...05/08/2005 - Provisional date
Digital Tachographs
The introduction of digital tachographs is expected to commence on or after 5th August 2005 - all new vehicles subject to EU Drivers Hours requirements (in scope vehicles) first used on or after the commencement date will be required to fit an approved digital tachograph. There are no plans for retro fitting in vehicles however where a replacement is required in an older vehicle it is expected a digital tachograph will be fitted.
Digital Tachographs will retain a full record of activity for at least 12 months and will also record details of any faults, interference, errors and over speeding that occur.
Tachograph cards which contain a microchip are inserted into the front of the unit. A Driver card allows the recording of driving time and rest periods both on the tachograph unit and the card. Up to 28 days data will be recorded on the card. Details previously entered in the centre field of a chart are now recorded automatically by the vehicle unit - driver name, odometer reading etc.
The use of a mode switch is still required to differentiate between work and breaks. Work away from the vehicle can be manually entered on the vehicle unit. The unit will also accommodate a co-driver (2nd man) card
