Tougher vehicle testing rules to safe lives

The European Commission has presented on 13 July 2012 its Roadworthiness Package with proposals to upgrade regulatory requirements for inspection of in-use vehicles (periodic technical inspections "PTI" and roadside inspections "RSI") and vehicle registrations.

Siim Kallas Vice President of the European Commission in charge of transport said "If you're driving a car which is not fit to be on the road, you're a danger to yourself and to everyone else in your car - your family, your friends, your business colleagues. What's more, you're a danger to all the other road users around you. It's not complicated; we don't want these potentially lethal cars on our roads.

European Commission press releases of 13 Jul. 2012

• Press release "Road Safety: Tougher vehicle testing rules to safe lives"
• MEMO "Road Safety: The Roadworthiness Package - Tougher vehicle checks to save lives"

Current EU regulatory requirements are setting minimum standards and have only being updated for minor issues since 1977. Technical defects have a significant contribution to road fatalities and electronic safety systems are even not checked at the moment. Therefore the European Commission proposes now to adopt new rules to toughen up the testing regime and widen its scope to cover current driver behavior and car technology developments.

Key issues covered under the proposals

• Periodic Technical Inspections "PTI"
  • Introduction of the inspection of powered 2 and 3 wheelers (L-category vehicles), the inspection frequency shall be (4-2-1)
  • Introduction of the inspection of light trailers (O2 category vehicles), the inspection frequency shall be (4-2-1)
  • Increase the inspection frequency for older small passenger vehicle (M1 category vehicles), the inspection frequency shall be (4-2-1)
  • Introduction of the inspection of agricultural vehicles with a design speed of over 40 km/h (T5), the inspection frequency shall be (1-1-1)
  • Increase the inspection frequency for small passenger vehicles (M1 Vehicle category) and light commercial vehicles (N1 vehicle category) if their mileage is more then 160000 km, the inspection frequency shall be.
  • Member States are allowed to introduce national requirements for vehicles exempted from the proposal:
    • Vehicles of historic interest, based on a new definition
    • Together with 3 other special classes of vehicles
  • Introduction of minimum contents for a PTI certificate
  • Introduction of minimum requirements for PTI inspection facilities and equipment
  • Introduction of minimum requirements for competence, training and certification of inspectors performing PTI
  • Quality Assurance supervision for autorised private bodies performing PTI
  • Mileage readings with the objective to detect kilometer fraud
  • Minor changes to the latest technical annexes with regard to "Minimum Requirements concerning the contents and methods of testing" and "requirements concerning the assessment of deficiencies of vehicles", as respectively part of the current PTI EC Directive 2010/3/378/EU and Recommendation 2010/48/EU.
  • Requirements concerning the assessment of deficiencies of vehicles are now part of the proposed Regulation and not to be seen as a recommendation anymore.

• Roadside Inspections "RSI"
  • Introduction of targeted inspections based on the risk profile for vehicle operators
  • The scope is extended to light commercial vehicles and their trailers (Vehicles categories N1, O1 and O2)
  • The yearly number of RSI inspections is linked to number of registered related vehicles for a Member State, at least 5%
  • Introduction of a multiple level check. Initial check of the overall condition of the vehicle and then a detailed check if judged necessary.
  • Introduction of requirements for inspection of cargo securing
  • Requirements for harmonisation of the assessment of deficiencies and training of RSI inspectors.
  • Introduction of more detailed reporting requirements

• Vehicle Registration
  • Provide technical from type approval for roadworthiness inspections

• Longer term perspective
  • Putting into place a harmonized data exchange system to reach finally mutual recognition of roadworthiness certificates based on harmonisation of roadworthiness inspections.

The proposals are available for consultation at the CITA website under the EU Regulations webpage or at the website of the European Commission:

Periodic Technical Inspection "PTI"

• • Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing Directive 2009/EC, dated 13 Jul. 2012
  • Proposal on its technical Annex, dated 13 Jul. 2012

• Roadside Inspections "RSI"
  • Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Union and repealing Directive 2000/30/EC, dated 13 Jul. 2012
  • Proposal on its technical Annex, dated 13 Jun. 2012

• Others:
  • Registration of Vehicles
    • Proposal on a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 1999/37/EC on the registration documents for vehicles, dated 13 Jul. 2012
  • Impact Assessment
    • Summary
    • Impact Assessment, dated 13 Jul. 2012
    • Study, dated 13 Jul. 2012

CITA will further analyze and comment the proposals for mandatory in-use vehicle inspections under its Regional Advisory Group for Europe "RAGE" assisted by the members its Technical Expert Groups "TEG". All CITA members are consulted through their participation in CITA Working Group "WG" and email surveys. Should you have any further questions, please contact the CITA Secretariat