CPA Bulletin

34 CPA Bulletin > May 2024 www.cpa.uk.net Legal NEWS LEGAL: 1 Ten police forces are trialling a newmobile camera system in an effort to tackle those drivers who fail to wear a seat belt or use a mobile phone whilst driving. The police forces taking part in the trial are Durham, Greater Manchester, Humberside, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire, Sussex, Thames Valley, West Mercia, and Wiltshire. The trial began in mid-February 2024, and will run until March 2025. The new camera system can be mounted to a vehicle or trailer and has multiple cameras giving differing views of the driver and their passengers. The images are then processed with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to establish whether the driver could be using a handheld mobile phone, or the driver (and/ or their passengers) may not be wearing a seatbelt. This information is then passed on to police for their decision to take any action against the driver. When the trial was first launched by National Highways in 2021, offending drivers received a warning letter informing them of the dangers of their behaviour. Research showed that drivers were four times more likely to be involved in an accident whilst using a mobile phone, and twice as likely to die in a crash if not wearing a seatbelt. Subject to the success of the trial, this may be rolled-out nationwide to the other 33 police forces. It has also been suggested that there are plans to have this technology fitted to road gantries, thereby giving a clear view of all passing vehicles. Currently, drivers can be fined up to £500 for not wearing a seatbelt in addition to penalty points, and using a mobile phone while driving can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and six penalty points. Police Trial Mobile Cameras From 6th April, the Government has introduced new protection rights for employees taking parental leave, under the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family) Leave Act 2023. The Act will cover all employees already on leave - due to maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave, and will also include employees who have recently returned to work from maternity leave - up to 18 months after the birth of their child. It will also cover those who are pregnant, or who have notified their employer of their pregnancy on or after 6th April, as well as for any statutory family leave ending on or after 6th April. This Act means that if the employee’s role is made redundant, then their employer must give them the first option on whether to accept or reject any other vacancy. However, the employee can still be made redundant if no appropriate vacancy is available. Previously, employees only had this protection during their period of maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave. As an update to February’s CPA Bulletin article, Transport for London (TfL) is still planning to proceed with phase 2 of the Direct Vision Standard - the introduction of the Progressive Safe System - which takes effect from 26th October 2024, whereby vehicles must attain the 3-star safety system to be able to run on London’s roads. A meeting was held between industry representatives and TfL’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, and other senior TfL executives, where the results of an industry survey was presented. The survey detailed operators’ concerns that their fleet would not be compliant by October, due to the ongoing confusion from TfL regarding the technical specifications required for vehicles to comply with phase 2. Industry’s particular concerns centred on whether the Blind Spot Information System (BSIS), and the Moving Off Information System (MOIS) would meet the new specifications. As a consequence, industry asked TfL to extend the current three-month ‘grace period’ to not only allow fleet owners sufficient time to retrofit their vehicles, but for TfL to liaise with equipment manufacturers, to ensure that any equipment supplied and fitted would be phase 2 compliant. TfL confirmed at the meeting that the ‘look up tool’ for both individual vehicles and fleets would on-line by the time Phase 2 begins. Members will be informed of any developments as they occur. Direct Vision Standard (DVS) Update Government Enhances Employee Redundancy Protection