Memo: Road safety: Member States water down proposals for tougher vehicle testing rules to save lives

Key measures to strengthen road safety and save lives have been put at risk by an agreement by transport ministers meeting on 20 December 2012 in Brussels. Vehicle checks are fundamental to road safety. More than 5 people die on Europe's roads every day in accidents linked to technical failure. EU transport ministers have agreed on a text which would water down key elements of Commission proposals for new rules to toughen up the current testing regime and widen its scope.

The agreement by ministers would substantially weaken the proposed new rules, by (a) removing motorcycles and other two-wheelers, the most vulnerable group of road users, from the scope of mandatory regular testing; (b) removing proposals for increased frequency of technical checks for older vehicles – the highest risk vehicles on the road; (c) weakening proposed measures to reduce mileage manipulation.

Ministers have backed measures with regard to two things: strengthened cross-border mutual recognition, and higher quality and harmonisation of testing, with minimum requirements on training, on equipment, on assessing deficiencies, on technical vehicle information and on supervision of testing.

ESO: Background information: Press Release: Road safety: Tougher vehicle testing rules to save lives http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-road-safety-tougher-vehicle-testing-rules-to-save-lives/

---