New vehicle inspection rules published

Tougher vehicle testing rules to save lives

Vehicle checks are fundamental to road safety. More than 5 people die on Europe's roads every day in accidents linked to technical failure. So on 3 April 2014 the European Union has adopted new rules to toughen up the testing regime and widen its scope.

The new rules aim to avoid more than 36,000 accidents a year linked to technical failure.

The new directives replace existing EU rules setting minimum standards for vehicle checks which date back to 1977, with only minor updates. Cars, driver behavior and technology have developed a lot since then.

Existing EU rules setting minimum standards for vehicle checks date back to 1977, with only minor updates. Cars, driver behaviour and technology have developed a lot since then.

Moreover, many technical defects with serious implications for safety (such as ABS and Electronic Stability Control) are not even checked under current rules.

The three directives that constitute the roadworthiness package concern

• Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness tests,
• Directive 2014/47/EU on technical roadside inspections for commercial vehicles and
• Directive 2014/46/EU on vehicle registration documents.

The new directives

Key elements of the new directives include

• Improving the quality of vehicle tests by setting common minimum standards for equipment, training of inspectors and assessment of deficiencies.
• Control of cargo securing during roadside inspections of goods vehicles above 3,5 t.
• Rendering electronic safety components (such as ABS, ESC and air-bag) subject to mandatory testing.
• Clamping down on mileage fraud, with registered mileage readings.
• Compulsory EU wide testing for heavy motorbikes unless a Member State reaches equivalent road safety enhancement by other measures. Motorbike riders are the highest risk group of road users.

In all cases, the directives set common EU wide minimum standards for vehicle checks with Member States free to go further if appropriate.

What is in the new Roadworthiness Package?

Related Links

• Press release
• Proposal for a Regulation on periodic roadworthiness tests
• Annex to Proposal for a Regulation on periodic roadworthiness tests
• Proposal for a Regulation on technical roadside inspections
• Annex to the Proposal for a Regulation on technical roadside inspections
• Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 1999_37 on registration documents for vehicles
• Impact Assessment
• Impact Assessment Study
• Summary of the Impact assessment