The European Commission is seeking to update EU legislation on vehicle roadworthiness testing and checks, by tabling a Roadworthiness Package before the European Parliament.
In its package, the Commission proposes a revision of three directives – periodic technical inspection (PTI) of vehicles, vehicle registration documents and roadside inspection (RSI) of commercial vehicles.
It therefore seeks to introduce digital vehicle registration and periodic testing certificates, as well as simplify cross-border data sharing and and protect citizens against fraudulent activities, such as odometer tampering.
The far-reaching package takes into account the fact that the current rules, last updated in 2014, must be relevant to technological advances, such as the growth of electric vehicles and driver-assistance systems.
The current rules also do not sufficiently tackle air pollution and noise emitted from some vehicles, particularly older ones.
The Commission found that outdated procedures, and the lack of use of modern technology, hindered enforcement and cross-border cooperation in areas, such as combatting odometer fraud.
The proposed rules are designed to improve road safety and air quality across the EU and will include the introduction of new vehicle registration documents.
They will introduce enhanced inspections, including periodic technical inspections for electric vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems; annual inspections for older cars and vans; and advanced emission testing methods to detect high-emitting vehicles to reduce fine particles pollution.
Under the modernised rules, periodic technical inspections will also be made easier for those temporarily residing in another EU country.
The Commission has said the proposed changes reflect the EU’s commitment to safe and sustainable mobility, while ensuring the free movement of people and goods.
The Roadworthiness Package is seen as reinforcing the EU road safety policy framework 2021-2030, in which the Commission committed to its ambitious goal of having close to zero deaths and zero serious injuries on EU roads by 2050 (‘Vision Zero’) and to reducing deaths and serious injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.
It believes that the introduction of the new rules will save an estimated 7,000 lives and prevent around 65,000 serious injuries between 2026 and 2050.
IRU EU Advocacy Director, Raluca Marian, said of the Roadworthiness Package: “This long-overdue update is essential to reflect how far commercial vehicles have come.
“Smarter, digitalised and updated rules will boost safety and reduce unnecessary burdens on operators.”
The IRU also welcomed the Commission’s strong push for digitalisation.
Moving away from paper-based documentation and enhancing the Electronic Freight Transport Information (eFTI) Regulation can simplify compliance and reduce administrative burdens for operators and authorities, the IRU said.
The key elements of the new rules are as follows:
- Adapting testing to new electric vehicles.
- New emissions testing.
- Combating odometer fraud.
- Annual inspections for vehicles over 10 years old.
- Digitalisation of vehicle registration and periodic testing certificates.
- Mutual recognition of Periodic Technical Inspection Certificates.
- Improved vehicle technical data governance.
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