This week the European Parliament approved the Mobility Package. This is a package of three files in the road transport sector dealing with rules on driving and rest times, cabotage and rules on posting of workers. Green MEP for Dublin, Ciarán Cuffe was one of those responsible in the Parliament for the legislation concerning driving and rest times.Throughout the negotiations, his priority was to ensure better working conditions for drivers and improve road safety. Across Europe, professional drivers often spend weeks on the road at a time, fatigued and without access to proper sleeping and sanitation facilities. During Covid-19, this has been made worse as checks on borders and reduced access to sanitation facilities have become more common. The agreement will alleviate some of the problems that have plagued the industry, although not all. It will remain up to the Member States to ensure high levels of enforcement.Dublin's Green MEP, Ciarán Cuffe said:"This week the European Parliament approved a packet of measures that attempts to rectify some of the longstanding problems in the road transport sector. While far from perfect, I am pleased that in some areas progress has been made.‘’Under the new rules, there is a ban on sleeping in the cabin for extended periods. Employers will have to pay for suitable accommodation outside a vehicle - until now drivers might have been sleeping in their cabin for weeks on end. Long-distance driving is a tough job, and these measures will improve conditions for workers in this sector."I'm also pleased that smart tachographs which will help with better enforcement of the rules are due to become the norm, and that light commercial vehicles, which are increasingly used in the industry, will be covered under the scope of the legislation.’’Ends