Road Safety Framework: Annual Report 2014

European Union: Policy and Regulation

In May 2014, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the legal basis of the Directive on Cross-Border Exchange of Information related to road safety 2011/82, which came into force in November 2013, was incorrect. The ECJ found that the measures proposed in the directive do not concern "prevention of crime" as defined under the police co-operation rules, but rather road safety, which is a transport issue. The UK had originally been able to opt out of this directive. However, as a result of this being defined as a transport issue, the UK is no longer able to opt out. A new directive is likely to come into effect in 2015 with the UK having until 2017 to ensure that it complies with the requirements of the directive. The directive will mean that information is shared with other member states on eight driving offences including speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone.