German motorway police and road transport inspectors uncovered a highly sophisticated manipulation setup in an almost new truck during a routine control. A concealed switch was used to fake “rest time” in the tachograph while the driver continued driving. Police warn that such tampering poses serious risks to road safety and vehicle assistance systems.
German motorway police describe the case as one of the most serious tachograph-related violations seen this year. Last Wednesday, traffic officers, together with inspectors from Germany’s Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM), stopped a 34-year-old Turkish truck driver during a routine roadside inspection.
During the initial check, officers found irregularities in the driver’s recorded driving and rest times. According to police, power-consumption measurements indicated that “the control unit was no longer in the original condition intended by the manufacturer.” Notably, the truck had been registered for the first time less than two weeks earlier.
Hidden switch enabling manual interference
After the control unit was dismantled, a specialised workshop confirmed the manipulation. A detailed search of the cab revealed the components used:
- a concealed toggle switch
- a matching wiring harness
- connected directly to the tachograph/control unit
A later test drive demonstrated how the system worked: when the switch was activated, the driver could force the tachograph to record “rest time” while the vehicle was still moving. As a result, the device displayed a speed of 0 km/h.
This allowed the driver to continue driving without the tachograph recording any movement , a deliberate attempt to circumvent mandatory driving- and rest-time regulations.
Police: “Chronic fatigue and traffic hazards are deliberately created”
According to the police report, the manipulation goes far beyond a simple breach of social regulations:
“Chronic fatigue of the driver and the resulting danger to traffic are knowingly and deliberately created,” the report states.
Even more concerning, the intervention disables key assistance systems, including:
- adaptive cruise control
- ABS
- ESP
- other safety-critical features
Because the vehicle is incorrectly identified as stationary, these systems switch off — with potentially fatal consequences. Police describe the situation as “highly dangerous” and warn that serious accidents are effectively “pre-programmed.”
Same company flagged earlier this year – now hit with €30,000 fine
The driver and the Turkish haulage company responsible denied all allegations. However, police say the same company had already been flagged for an identical manipulation in July.
After consultation with BALM’s fines department, a €30,000 penalty was imposed. The required security deposit was paid by the company in two instalments.
The truck was prohibited from continuing its journey until all manipulated components were removed and repaired. All tampered parts were seized as evidence.
