The first major joint roads inspection of buses was carried out by the Benelux services, with a total of eighty-one vehicles being checked last Thursday, 28 May, simultaneously across Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The main focus of the operation were groups headed to amusement parks; the inspection points were near Bobbejaanland and Walibi in Belgium, Efteling in the Netherlands and at the Customs centre in Howald in the Grand-Duchy; with the aim being to share knowledge, in order to achieve greater uniformity in supervisory practices between the countries, which will lead to greater road security.
During the inspections, the buses were checked and monitored for technical elements, compliance with driving legislation and authorities, as well as tachygraphy fraud.
The joint operation was organised within the framework of the Treaty of Liège, signed in October last year, and a measure foreseeing the enforcement of greater and more efficient joint control of trucks and buses. The initiative targets a standardised monitoring of road transport, cuts costs, and ensures fair competition between carriers, as well as decent working conditions for drivers. Later this year, another inspection of buses will be carried out in the three countries.
The inspections are carried out by SPF Mobilité et Transports (Belgium), Human Environment and Transport Inspection service (Netherlands), and the Luxembourg Customs.
In Luxembourg, specifically, nine vehicles were inspected, with sixteen warnings issue (allowed driving time, and rest periods) for a total of €2,320.
