Reforms concerning enforcement of social legislation on heavy professional road transport and division of responsibilities between authorities

The Government issued a decree on the enforcement of social legislation on road transport and division of responsibilities between different authorities on 13 April 2022. The decree entered into force on 18 April 2022. The decree harmonises the enforcement of social legislation on road transport with the EU legislation and strengthens the division of responsibilities between different authorities.

In future, drivers, companies and vehicles that fall within the scope of the Tachographs Regulation will be controlled on roadsides and company premises as specified in the decree. The main objective is to prevent accidents that are caused by driver fatigue.

The police, Finnish Customs and the Finnish Border Guard will control the compliance with the legislation on roadsides and the occupational safety and health authority on company premises. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom is tasked with providing risk classification data to the authorities for carrying out risk-based controls.

The occupational safety and health authority was designated to coordinate the national enforcement strategy and contacts with the competent authorities of the European Union Member States.

Based on EU Mobility Package

The social and market provisions of the EU Mobility Package concerning road transport were published in July 2020. For the purpose of the national implementation of the package, the Government issued a proposal that entered into force on 1 February 2022. The Government decree that has now been issued supplements the national implementation of the EU Mobility Package with respect to enforcement.

What's next?

The decree entered into force on 18 April 2022. The national enforcement strategy will be submitted to the European Commission by 21 August 2022.

Inquiries

Veli-Matti Syrjänen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 50 470 7708, veli-matti.syrjanen(at)gov.fi

Pyry Takala, Director of Unit, tel. +358 50 911 7627, pyry.takala(at)gov.fi