The modern TSL industry, a pillar of the European economy, is subject to numerous requirements and regulations. The proper organisation of transport has a huge impact on the development of individual countries, as well as on working conditions and the safety of drivers and other road users. In today's article, we will look at one of the most important agreements in road transport, the AETR Convention. To whom do the provisions of the Convention apply and in what situations? Check it out!
The AETR Convention (short for 'Accord Européen sur les Transports Routiers') is an agreement that establishes several key principles in international transport. It was enacted in Geneva in 1970.
The AETR agreement is a legal instrument that aims to harmonise regulations across countries, improve road safety and maintain an appropriate standard of working conditions for professional drivers.
Poland signed the AETR Convention soon after its enactment - in 1971, but the difference in national regulations significantly delayed the ratification of the agreement. Finally, the AETR regulations have been in force in Poland since 1992. Aspects regulated by the AETR agreement are found, inter alia, in the Polish Labour Code and the Act on the Working Time of Drivers of 16 April 2004.
The AETR Convention regulates:
The AETR agreement applies to international road transport carried out outside the borders of the Member States of the European Union, the European Economic Area and within the territory of the countries that have signed the convention - by vehicles registered in those countries.
The AETR Convention also indicates the minimum age of the driver - 18 years for vehicles with semi-trailers and trailers with a maximum permissible weight of up to 7.5 tonnes and, as standard, 21 years for other vehicles. Under the provisions of the AETR Convention, drivers carrying passengers must also be 21 years of age.
The AETR provides for driving time to be accounted for in weekly and daily periods. The regulations state that a driver's weekly driving time must not exceed 56 hours. At the same time, a period of total bi-weekly driving time must also be taken into account, which must not exceed 90 hours.
How does this translate into daily sections? According to Article 6 of the AETR Convention, the driver's daily driving time is 9 hours and can be increased twice a week - up to a maximum of 10 hours.
The AETR Convention aims to improve road safety and make international transport more efficient, both in the context of passenger and goods transport. A key aspect is to harmonise the rules on employment conditions and working time for professional drivers, thus eliminating legal differences between countries.
In addition to the aforementioned rules on maximum daily and weekly driving time, drivers should know how much the daily rest time is under the AETR rules.
How does the AETR Convention regulate rest periods on a ferry or train? Rest may be divided into a maximum of 3 periods in such a situation, and the total activity time of the driver between them may not exceed 60 minutes. The driver must be provided with a berth or couchette.
The following countries have ratified the AETR Agreement: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Russian Federation, Finland, France, Greece, Georgia, Spain, Northern Ireland, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Hungary, United Kingdom and Italy.
Yes, the AETR rules provide a regulatory framework for countries that have signed the Convention - all countries are obliged to incorporate them into their internal legal systems.
