December 20, 2024
On 19 December 2024, the local police of Turin withdrew the license of the driver of a lorry whose tachograph was modified to falsify the records.
Maxi fine and license withdrawn, in addition to the deduction of 10 points from the qualification card for the driver of a lorry stopped on the afternoon of December 19th, by the agents of the Radiomobile department, road transport team, of the Local Police of Turin during an inspection.
The person driving, owner of a road haulage company based in the province of Catanzaro, was transporting various goods from Calabria to many regions of Italy, including Piedmont.
What made the officers suspicious was the driver's obvious state of fatigue and his impatience to leave and resume his activity as soon as possible. From checking the data it was seen that the vehicle, while traveling and under the direct control of the same Local Police officers, even before it was blocked, was stationary and the driver was at rest.
More in-depth investigations at an authorized workshop revealed the alterations made in order to falsify the recordings and deceive the safety tools with the modified motion sensor and the tachograph which was paused using a button in the cabin.
The Local Police seized the equipment, while the driver of the truck, in addition to having his license deducted by 10 points on his qualification card, had his license withdrawn. The driver was also asked to restore the tachograph system within 10 days under penalty of administrative detention of the vehicle.
The legislation regarding the driving activities of professional drivers and that relating to the tachograph, in addition to ensuring the harmonization of the conditions of competition in road transport, is aimed at improving the working conditions of drivers and road safety. The Local Police underlines the importance of respecting the provisions relating to the maximum permitted driving times and the obligation for the driver to take certain rest periods. These measures can be crucial in preventing road accidents, often caused by driver fatigue.
