The new rules mean drivers should manually record the symbol of the country they enter after crossing the border of any member state.
The obligation applies from 20 August 2020 in respect of vehicles equipped with an analogue tachograph and from today in respect of vehicles equipped with a digital tachograph.
The driver must stop at the nearest possible stopping place at or after the border. Where the crossing of the border takes place on a ferry or train, the driver must enter the symbol of the country at the port or station of arrival, while awaiting to disembark.
Daily working period
It is also important to note that since 20 August 2020 drivers of vehicles fitted with an analogue tachograph are required to record the symbol of the countries in which the daily working period started and finished – as was already the case for vehicles fitted with a digital tachograph.
When the new Smart tachographs V2 come in, these should automatically change the country using GPS signals. All new vehicles will be fitted with SM2 tachos from 21 August 2023.
Old vehicles used internationally with analogue or older tachographs have to be retro fitted to SM2 tachos by the end of December 2024, and those international vehicles with one of the first smart tachos will need to upgrade by 20 August 2025.
Smart Tacho 2 will need to be fitted in vehicles between 2.5 – 3.5tn working international from 1 July 2026.