In its White Paper ‘European transport policy for 2010: time to decide’, the Commission indicated the need to tighten up checks and sanctions particularly for social legislation on road transport activities, and specifically to increase the number of checks, to encourage the systematic exchange of information between Member States, to coordinate inspection activities and to promote the training of enforcement officers.

It is therefore necessary to ensure proper application and harmonised interpretation of the social rules on road transport through the establishment of minimum requirements for the uniform and effective checking by the Member States of compliance with the relevant provisions. Those checks should serve to reduce and prevent infringements. Furthermore, a mechanism should be introduced which ensures that undertakings with a high risk rating are checked more closely and more often.

The risks arising from driver fatigue should also be addressed through enforcement of Directive 2002/15/EC.

The measures provided for in this Directive should not only lead to greater road safety but should also contribute to a harmonisation of working conditions in the Community and promote a level playing field.

The replacement of analogue tachographs by digital tachographs will progressively enable a greater volume of data to be checked more swiftly and more precisely and, for that reason, Member States will be increasingly able to undertake more checks. In terms of checks, the percentage of days worked by drivers of vehicles falling within the scope of the social legislation that are checked should therefore be gradually increased to 4 %.

As regards checking systems, the aim must be that national systems develop towards European interoperability and practicability.

Sufficient standard equipment and appropriate legal powers should be available to all enforcement units to enable them to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently.

Member States should seek to ensure, without prejudice to the proper execution of the tasks imposed by this Directive, that roadside checks are executed efficiently and quickly, with a view to completing the check in the shortest time possible and with the least delay for the driver.

Within each Member State there should be a single body for intracommunity liaison with other relevant competent authorities. That body should also compile relevant statistics. Member States should also apply a coherent national enforcement strategy on their territory and may designate a single body to coordinate its implementation.

Cooperation between Member State enforcement authorities should be further promoted through concerted checks, joint training initiatives, the electronic exchange of information, and the exchange of intelligence and experience.

Best practice in road transport enforcement operations, particularly to ensure a harmonised approach to the issue of proof of a driver's annual leave or sick leave, should be facilitated and promoted through a forum for Member State enforcement authorities.