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Directive 2003/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2003 on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers, amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 and Council Directive 91/439/EEC and repealing Council Directive 76/914/EEC
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The knowledge to be taken into account by Member States when establishing the driver's initial qualification and periodic training must include at least the subjects in this list. Trainee drivers must reach the level of knowledge and practical competence necessary to drive in all safety vehicles of the relevant licence category.
[F1The minimum level of qualification shall be comparable at least to level 2 of the European Qualifications Framework as provided for in Annex II to Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 (1) .]
Textual Amendments
F1 Substituted by Directive (EU) 2018/645 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 April 2018 amending Directive 2003/59/EC on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers and Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences (Text with EEA relevance).
curves relating to torque, power, and specific consumption of an engine, area of optimum use of revolution counter, gearbox-ratio cover diagrams.
limits to the use of brakes and retarder, combined use of brakes and retarder, making better use of speed and gear ratio, making use of vehicle inertia, using ways of slowing down and braking on downhill stretches, action in the event of failure, use of electronic and mechanical devices such as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), traction control systems (TCS) and in vehicle monitoring systems (IVMS) and other, approved for use, driver assistance or automation devices.]
optimisation of fuel consumption by applying know-how as regards points 1.1 and 1.2, importance of anticipating traffic flow, appropriate distance to other vehicles and use of the vehicle's momentum, steady speed, smooth driving style and appropriate tyre pressure, and familiarity with intelligent transport systems that improve driving efficiency and assist in route planning.]
to be aware of and adapt to different road, traffic and weather conditions, anticipate forthcoming events; to understand how to prepare and plan a journey during abnormal weather conditions; to be familiar with the use of related safety equipment and to understand when a journey has to be postponed or cancelled due to extreme weather conditions; to adapt to the risks of traffic, including dangerous behaviour in traffic or distracted driving (through the use of electronic devices, eating, drinking, etc.); to recognise and adapt to dangerous situations and to be able to cope with stress deriving therefrom, in particular related to size and weight of the vehicles and vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and powered two wheelers;
to identify possible hazardous situations and properly interpret how these potentially hazardous situations may turn into situations where crashes can no longer be averted and selecting and implementing actions that increase the safety margins to such an extent that a crash can still be averted in case the potential hazards should occur.]
Textual Amendments
F2 Inserted by Directive (EU) 2018/645 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 April 2018 amending Directive 2003/59/EC on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers and Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences (Text with EEA relevance).
forces affecting vehicles in motion, use of gearbox ratios according to vehicle load and road profile, use of automatic transmission systems, calculation of payload of vehicle or assembly, calculation of total volume, load distribution, consequences of overloading the axle, vehicle stability and centre of gravity, types of packaging and pallets;
main categories of goods needing securing, clamping and securing techniques, use of securing straps, checking of securing devices, use of handling equipment, placing and removal of tarpaulins.]
adjusting longitudinal and sideways movements, road sharing, position on the road, smooth breaking, overhang operation, using specific infrastructures (public areas, dedicated lanes), managing conflicts between safe driving and other roles as a driver, interacting with passengers, specificities of certain groups of passengers (disabled persons, children).]
forces affecting vehicles in motion, use of gearbox-ratios according to vehicle load and road profile, use of automatic transmission systems, calculation of payload of vehicle or assembly, load distribution, consequences of overloading the axle, vehicle stability and centre of gravity.]
maximum working periods specific to the transport industry; principles, application and consequences of Regulations (EC) No 561/2006 (2) and (EU) No 165/2014 (3) of the European Parliament and of the Council; penalties for failure to use, improper use of and tampering with the tachograph; knowledge of the social environment of road transport: rights and duties of drivers as regards initial qualification and periodic training.]
transport operating licences, documents to be carried in the vehicle, bans on using certain roads, road-use fees, obligations under standard contracts for the carriage of goods, drafting of documents which form the transport contract, international transport permits, obligations under the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, drafting of the international consignment note, crossing borders, freight forwarders, special documents accompanying goods.]
carriage of specific groups of passengers, safety equipment on board buses, safety belts, vehicle load.
types of accidents at work in the transport sector, road accident statistics, involvement of lorries/coaches, human, material and financial consequences.
general information, implications for drivers, preventive measures, check list, legislation on transport operator liability.
ergonomic principles; movements and postures which pose a risk, physical fitness, handling exercises, personal protection.
principles of healthy, balanced eating, effects of alcohol, drugs or any other substance likely to affect behaviour, symptoms, causes, effects of fatigue and stress, fundamental role of the basic work/rest cycle.
behaviour in an emergency situation: assessment of the situation, avoiding complications of an accident, summoning assistance, assisting casualties and giving first aid, reaction in the event of fire, evacuation of occupants of a lorry/bus passengers, ensuring the safety of all passengers, reaction in the event of aggression; basic principles for the drafting of an accident report.
behaviour of the driver and company image: importance for the company of the standard of service provided by the driver, the roles of the driver, people with whom the driver will be dealing, vehicle maintenance, work organisation, commercial and financial effects of a dispute.
road transport in relation to other modes of transport (competition, shippers), different road transport activities (transport for hire or reward, own account, auxiliary transport activities), organisation of the main types of transport company and auxiliary transport activities, different transport specialisations (road tanker, controlled temperature, dangerous goods, animal transport, etc.), changes in the industry (diversification of services provided, rail-road, subcontracting, etc.).]
carriage of passengers by road in relation to other modes of passenger transport (rail, private car), different activities involving the carriage of passengers by road, disability awareness, crossing borders (international transport), organisation of the main types of companies for the carriage of passengers by road.]
[F1Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning ( OJ C 111, 6.5.2008, p. 1 ).]
[F1Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport and amending Council Regulations (EEC) No 3821/85 and (EC) No 2135/98 and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 ( OJ L 102, 11.4.2006, p. 1 ).]
[F1Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 February 2014 on tachographs in road transport, repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport and amending Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport ( OJ L 60, 28.2.2014, p. 1 ).]
Textual Amendments
F1 Substituted by Directive (EU) 2018/645 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 April 2018 amending Directive 2003/59/EC on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers and Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences (Text with EEA relevance).
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