Tag Archives: Roadworthiness tests

Road safety: transportable pressure equipment

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Road safety: transportable pressure equipment

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These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Transport > Road transport

Road safety: transportable pressure equipment

Document or Iniciative

Directive 2010/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 June 2010 on transportable pressure equipment and repealing Council Directives 76/767/EEC, 84/525/EEC, 84/526/EEC, 84/527/EEC and 1999/36/EC.

Summary

This directive updates certain technical provisions of Directive 1999/36/EC to avoid conflicting rules. It sets out detailed rules on transportable pressure equipment *to improve safety and to ensure free movement of such equipment within the European Union (EU).

This directive applies to:

new transportable pressure equipment which does not bear the conformity markings provided for in Directives 84/525/EEC, 84/526/EEC, 84/527/EEC or 1999/36/EC, for the purpose of making it available on the market;
transportable pressure equipment bearing the conformity markings provided for in the above directives, for the purposes of its periodic inspections, intermediate inspections, exceptional checks and use;
transportable pressure equipment which does not bear the conformity markings provided for in Directive 1999/36/EC, for the purposes of reassessment of conformity.

This directive does not apply to:

transportable pressure equipment placed on the market before the implementation date of Directive 1999/36/EC and which has not been subject to a reassessment of conformity;
transportable pressure equipment exclusively used for the transport of dangerous goods between EU and non-EU countries, undertaken in accordance with Directive 2008/68/EC.

Obligations of economic operators *

Manufacturers must ensure that when placing their transportable pressure equipment on the market, the equipment has been designed, manufactured and documented in compliance with the requirements in both this directive and in Directive 2008/68/EC. When this compliance is demonstrated through the conformity assessment process, manufacturers must affix the Pi marking * to the equipment. This Pi marking must only be affixed by the manufacturer or, in cases of reassessment of conformity, by or under the surveillance of the notified body.

If manufacturers believe that they have placed on the market transportable pressure equipment that does not conform to the requirements, they must immediately take the necessary corrective measures to fulfil the requirements and, where appropriate, withdraw or recall the equipment from the market. If requested by the competent national authority, manufacturers must provide all documents to prove the conformity of their equipment, in a language easily understood by the authority.

Manufacturers may, by a written mandate, appoint an authorised representative. The mandate will specify tasks for the authorised representative to undertake, but will include:

keep the technical documentation at the disposal of national surveillance authorities;
provide the competent national authority, on request, with all necessary information and documentation to prove the conformity of the transportable pressure equipment;
cooperate with the competent national authorities on action taken to eliminate any risks posed by the equipment covered by the mandate.

Importers and distributors may only place on the EU market transportable pressure equipment that complies with Directive 2008/68/EC and this directive. They must ensure that the equipment bears the Pi marking and has the necessary certificate of conformity. Where importers or distributors do not believe the equipment to be in conformity, they must not place it on the market.

Importers, distributors and owners must:

inform the manufacturer and competent authority of any risk presented by the equipment. Alternatively, where relevant, the distributor can inform the importer and the owner can inform either the distributor or the importer of such a risk;
document all instances of non-compliance and corrective measures;
ensure that when transportable pressure equipment is under their responsibility, storage or transport conditions do not jeopardise its conformity.

The above does not apply to private individuals intending to use the equipment for their personal use, leisure or sporting activities.

Conformity of transportable pressure equipment

The transportable pressure equipment must meet the relevant conformity assessment, periodic inspection, intermediate inspection and exceptional checks requirements, as well as the specifications of the documentation according to which the equipment was manufactured;

Free movement of transportable pressure equipment

No EU country may prohibit, restrict or impede the free movement, the placing on the market and the use of transportable pressure equipment on their territory, when the above complies with this directive.

Key terms used in the act
Transportable pressure equipment: all pressure receptacles, their valves and other accessories when appropriate; tanks, battery vehicles / wagons, multiple-element gas containers (MEGCs), their valves and other accessories when appropriate; includes gas cartridges but excludes aerosols, open cryogenic receptacles, gas cylinders for breathing apparatus and fire extinguishers; economic operator: the manufacturer, the authorised representative, the importer, the distributor, the owner or the operator acting in the course of a commercial or public service activity, whether in return for payment or free of charge; Pi marking: marking which indicates that the transportable pressure equipment is in conformity with the applicable conformity assessment requirements set out in Directive 2008/68/EC and in this directive.

Key terms used in the act

Transportable pressure equipment:
- all pressure receptacles, their valves and other accessories when appropriate;
- tanks, battery vehicles / wagons, multiple-element gas containers (MEGCs), their valves and other accessories when appropriate;
- includes gas cartridges but excludes aerosols, open cryogenic receptacles, gas cylinders for breathing apparatus and fire extinguishers;
economic operator: the manufacturer, the authorised representative, the importer, the distributor, the owner or the operator acting in the course of a commercial or public service activity, whether in return for payment or free of charge;
Pi marking: marking which indicates that the transportable pressure equipment is in conformity with the applicable conformity assessment requirements set out in Directive 2008/68/EC and in this directive.

References

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 2010/35/EU	20.7.2010	30.6.2011	OJ L 165 of 30.6.2010

Motor vehicles and their trailers: roadworthiness test

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Motor vehicles and their trailers: roadworthiness test

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Motor vehicles and their trailers: roadworthiness test

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Transport > Road transport

Motor vehicles and their trailers: roadworthiness test

Document or Iniciative

Directive 2009/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009 on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers (Recast).

Summary

Motor vehicles registered in a European Union (EU) country and their trailers must undergo periodic roadworthiness tests. Annexes I and II to this directive detail the categories of vehicles to be tested, the frequency of the roadworthiness tests and the items which must be tested. The roadworthiness tests must be undertaken by the EU countries, or by a public body that has been entrusted with the task, or by bodies or establishments designated and directly supervised.

Annex I details the categories of motor vehicles that will be subject to roadworthiness tests and the required frequency of the tests for each category. The minimum testing frequency for the different categories of motor vehicles and their trailers is:

One year after the date on which the vehicle was first used, and thereafter annually for:
- motor vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and with more than eight seats, excluding the driver’s seat;
- motor vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum permissible mass exceeding 3 500 kg;
- trailers and semi-trailers with a maximum permissible mass exceeding 3 500 kg;
- taxis, ambulances;
Four years after the date on which the vehicle was first used, and thereafter every two years for:
- motor vehicles having at least four wheels, normally used for the road carriage of goods and with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 3 500 kg, excluding agricultural tractors and machinery;
- motor vehicles having at least four wheels, used for the carriage of passengers and with not more than eight seats excluding the driver’s seat.

Annex II sets out which items must be compulsorily tested. The tests covered by Annex II should be undertaken using techniques and equipment available without the use of tools to disassemble or remove any part of the vehicle. Where the motor vehicle is found to be defective with regard to the test items below, the competent authority in the EU country concerned must set specific conditions under which the particular vehicle may be used before passing another roadworthiness test. The test must cover the items listed in the annex, provided that these are related to the equipment of the vehicle being tested in the EU country concerned. The compulsory test items include:

vehicle identification;
braking equipment;
steering;
visibility;
lighting equipment and parts of electric system;
axles, wheels, tyres and suspension;
chassis and chassis attachments;
other equipment – safety belts, fire extinguisher, locks and anti-theft device, warning triangle, first-aid kit, speedometer, etc;
nuisance – noise, exhaust emissions, etc;
supplementary tests for public transport vehicles – emergency exit(s), heating and ventilation systems, seat layout, interior lighting;

The vehicle operator or driver must be informed in writing of any defects, the result of the test and the legal consequences. EU countries will take the necessary measures to make it possible to prove that a vehicle has passed a roadworthiness test. Other EU countries and the Commission will be informed of these measures. All EU countries will mutually recognise the proof issued in another EU country showing that a vehicle registered in that other EU country, together with its trailer or semi-trailer, has passed a roadworthiness test in compliance with the provisions of this directive. EU countries will also implement all appropriate measures to establish that the brake performance of motor vehicles registered in their country complies with the requirements of this directive.

Exceptions

Notwithstanding the provisions of Annexes I and II, EU countries have the right to:

bring forward the date for the first compulsory roadworthiness test and, where appropriate, require the vehicle to be submitted for test prior to registration;
shorten the interval between two successive compulsory tests;
make the testing of optional equipment compulsory;
increase the number of items to be tested;
extend the periodic test requirement to other categories of vehicles;
prescribe special additional tests;
require vehicles registered on their territory to have higher minimum standards for braking efficiency than those specified in Annex II and include a test on vehicles with heavier loads, provided such requirements do not exceed those of the vehicle’s original type-approval.

EU countries also have the right to exclude vehicles belonging to the armed forces, the forces of law and order and the fire service from the scope of this directive. After consultation with the Commission, EU countries may exclude from the requirements of this directive certain motor vehicles operated or used in exceptional conditions, and motor vehicles which are never, or hardly ever, used on public highways. Following consultation with the Commission, EU countries also have the right to set their own testing standards for vehicles considered to be of historic interest.

The Commission will adopt all necessary directives to define the minimum standards and methods for testing the items listed in Annex II of this directive, as well as any amendments necessary to adapt to technical progress in these areas.

Within three years from the introduction of regular testing of speed limitation devices, the Commission will re-examine whether the tests laid down are sufficient to detect defective or manipulated speed limitation devices or whether the rules need to be modified.

This directive repeals Directive 96/96/EC.

References

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 2009/40/EC	26.6.2009	–	OJ L 141 of 6.6.2009

Successive amendments and corrections to Directive 2009/40/EC have been incorporated in the basic text. This consolidated versionis for reference purposes only.

Related Acts

Commission Recommendation 2010/378/EU of 5 July 2010 on the assessment of defects during roadworthiness testing in accordance with Directive 2009/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers [Official Journal L 173 of 8.7.2010].

Road safety: Policy orientations on road safety 2011-20

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Road safety: Policy orientations on road safety 2011-20

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Road safety: Policy orientations on road safety 2011-20

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Transport > Road transport

Road safety: Policy orientations on road safety 2011-20

rd road safety action programme, the Commission has published policy orientations on road safety to provide a general framework, under which concrete action can be taken at European, national, regional or local levels from 2011 until 2020.

Document or Iniciative

Commission Communication of 20 July 2010 to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – “Towards a European road safety area: policy orientations on road safety 2011-2020” [COM(2010) 389 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

Although progress was made on road safety in the European Union (EU) during the 3^rd European road safety action programme (2003-10), the Commission highlights that efforts to improve road safety need to be further strengthened. This 3^rd road safety action programme (RSAP) included an ambitious target to halve the number of road deaths by 2010 as well as numerous proposals for concrete actions in vehicle safety, safety of infrastructure and users’ safety. Although the Commission accepts that the initial target was not likely to be met by the end of 2010, the RSAP has encouraged EU countries to be more proactive in improving road safety and has gone a long way to dramatically reduce the number of fatalities on EU roads.

The European road safety policy orientations 2011-20 aims to provide a general framework and challenging objectives to guide national and local strategies, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity. Within the general framework, the Commission highlights the need to:

create a cooperation framework based on the exchange of best practices across the EU;
adopt a strategy for injuries and first aid to address the need to reduce the number of road injuries;
improve the safety of vulnerable road users.

Principles and target

The Commission sets out three main principles:

striving for the highest road safety standards throughout Europe – by encouraging EU citizens to take primary responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others on EU roads, and by focusing on improving the safety of more vulnerable road users;
an integrated approach to road safety – through cooperation with other EU policy areas, such as energy, environment, education, innovation and technology, and justice.
subsidiarity, proportionality and shared responsibility – through the concept of shared responsibility, commitment and concrete actions at all levels from EU countries and their authorities to regional and local bodies.

Following the RSAP 2003-10, the Commission proposes to maintain the target of halving the overall number of road deaths in the EU between 2010 and 2020. This ambitious target demonstrates the EU’s clear commitment towards road safety and having a common objective is intended to provide EU citizens with a more uniform level of road safety within the EU. The Commission encourages individual EU countries to contribute to the achievement of this common target through their own national road safety strategies.

During the public consultation for these policy orientations, which took place between July and December 2009, a target for reducing road traffic severe injuries was proposed. Once a common definition exists for ‘severe injuries’, the Commission will propose to add a common “injuries reduction target” to these European road safety policy orientations up to 2020.

Strategic objectives

The Commission has identified seven objectives, for which actions will be proposed at both EU and national level:

improve education and training of road users – the quality of the licensing and training system needs to be improved, with emphasis on young drivers. The Commission will work with EU countries to develop a common educational and training road safety strategy including pre-test learning, the driving licence test, and post-licence training;
increase enforcement of road rules – the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council will work together to establish a cross-border exchange of information in the area of road safety. The Commission will also work towards a common road safety enforcement strategy which will involve enforcement campaigns, national enforcement objectives, and vehicle technology to assist enforcement, including the possibility of speed limiters in light commercial vehicles and alcohol interlock devices;
safer road infrastructure – the Commission will ensure that European funds will only be granted to infrastructure that complies with the EU safety requirements. The Commission will also promote the application of the relevant principles of safe management to the secondary road network of EU countries, in particular through the exchange of best practices.
safer vehicles – as well as continue to encourage the progress of vehicle safety, the Commission will also evaluate and propose actions in the area of harmonisation and progressive strengthening of EU legislation on roadworthiness tests and on technical roadside inspections;
promote the use of modern technology to increase road safety – the Commission will continue to promote the use of Intelligent Transport Systems to improve road traffic safety. The effectiveness and speed of rescue will be enhanced by the adoption of the European emergency call service fitted to vehicles, ‘eCall’;
improve emergency and post-injuries services – the Commission will propose the establishment of a global strategy of action on road injuries and first aid. The Commission will in particular examine the means to improve the efficiency of first aid intervention and post-care handling in order to reduce the impact of road accidents.
protect vulnerable road users – the Commission will work to improve the safety of motorcyclists, addressing behaviour, as well as vehicle and infrastructure safety. It will also encourage the establishment of adequate infrastructures to increase the safety of cycling and other vulnerable road users.

Implementation of the European road safety policy orientations 2011-20

A framework for open cooperation between EU countries and the Commission will be established to facilitate the implementation of the EU road safety policy. Parallel to this, EU countries should also develop national road safety plans including specific national objectives which are individual to their particular situation.

The Commission will pursue the improvement of the existing tools for data collection and analysis, such as CARE, the EU database on road accidents established in accordance with Council Decision 93/704/EC, as well as the European Road Safety Observatory (ERSO), which makes publicly available through the Internet road safety data and knowledge at European level.

Motor vehicles with trailers: roadworthiness test

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Motor vehicles with trailers: roadworthiness test

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Motor vehicles with trailers: roadworthiness test

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Internal market > Motor vehicles > Interactions between the automobile industry and specific policies

Motor vehicles with trailers: roadworthiness test

Document or Iniciative

Council Directive 96/96/EC of 20 December 1996 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers [See amending acts].

Summary

Directive 96/96/EC

This Directive covers:

buses;
coaches;
heavy goods vehicles;
trailers and semi-trailers weighing more than 3.5 tonnes;
taxis;
ambulances;
light commercial vehicles weighing not more than 3.5 tonnes (pickups and vans);
private cars with not more than eight seats, excluding the driver’s seat.

The Member States may exempt the following from the Directive:

armed-forces, public-order and fire-fighting vehicles;
certain vehicles used under exceptional conditions.

The abovementioned vehicles are subject to a compulsory roadworthiness test whereby:

the frequency and the vehicle parts to be tested are specified in the Annexes;
Member States must issue a test certificate which must be recognised by the other Member States.

The roadworthiness test carried out by the Member States, or authorised bodies within the Member States, focuses, in particular, on the following:

braking system;
steering and steering wheel;
visibility;
lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment;
axles, wheels, tyres and suspension;
chassis and chassis attachments;
nuisance, including exhaust emissions;
vehicle identification;
various items of equipment.

The frequency of the tests varies according to vehicle type:

light commercial vehicles and private cars: the first test takes place four years after the vehicle was first put into service, and thereafter every two years;
other vehicles: the first test is carried out one year after the vehicle was first put into service, and thereafter annually.

Member States may grant exemptions from the Directive in order to:

bring forward the date for the first test;
shorten the interval between two successive compulsory tests;
make the testing of optional equipment compulsory;
increase the number of items to be tested;
extend the periodic test requirement to other categories of vehicles;
require special additional tests;
apply more stringent braking standards than those set out in the Directive.

On 9 March 1998 the Directive repeals Directives 77/143/EEC, 88/449/EEC, 91/225/EEC, 91/328/EEC, 92/54/EEC, 92/55/EEC and 94/23/EC. This in no way affects the Member States’ obligations concerning the dates for transposition into national law and for implementation of the Directives which have been repealed.

References

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 96/96/EEC	09.03.1997	09.03.1998	OJ L 046 of 17.02.1997

Amending act(s)	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 1999/52/EC	06.06.1999	01.10.2000	OJ L 142 of 05.06.1999
Directive 2001/09/EC	09.03.2001	09.03.2002	OJ L 048 of 17.02.2001
Directive 2001/11/EC	09.03.2001	09.03.2003	OJ L 048 of 17.02.2001
Directive 2003/27/EC	28.04.2003	01.01.2004	OJ L 090 of 08.04.2003
Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003	20.11.2003	–	OJ L 284 of 31.10.2003

Motor vehicles and their trailers: roadworthiness testing of heavy goods vehicles

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Motor vehicles and their trailers: roadworthiness testing of heavy goods vehicles

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Motor vehicles and their trailers: roadworthiness testing of heavy goods vehicles

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Transport > Road transport

Motor vehicles and their trailers: roadworthiness testing of heavy goods vehicles

Document or Iniciative

Directive 2000/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 June 2000 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Community.

Summary

This directive sets out the legal framework for roadside roadworthiness checks on commercial vehicles that are intended to carry passengers or goods. It supplements Directive 96/96/EC which introduces a mandatory annual roadworthiness test at a testing station for on-road commercial vehicles.

A wide range of advantages are expected in terms of reducing the number of accidents and pollution (reducing carbon dioxide CO2 emissions) and of energy saving (lowering fuel consumption).

Roadside checks are unannounced checks on a commercial vehicle travelling within a European Union (EU) country. They are carried out by the authorities on roads, in ports, or anywhere else considered appropriate.

This directive provides that a technical roadside inspection shall comprise one, two or all of the following aspects:

a visual check on the state of maintenance of the vehicle running on the road network;
a check on the documents relating to the compliance of the vehicle with a technical roadside inspection and if the driver presents it a recent roadside technical inspection report;
a check to uncover poor maintenance (smooth tyres, faulty braking system, etc.). In this instance, the inspector should take the most recent documents and any other safety certificate into consideration.

The directive provides for the introduction by the EU countries of regular, appropriate roadside checks to be carried out without discrimination as to the driver’s nationality or vehicle registration, and which every year covers a significant, representative cross-section of commercial vehicles of all categories.

Every two years the EU countries must send the Commission information on the two previous years concerning the number of commercial vehicles checked.

The roadside checks provided for in the directive shall be carried out in accordance with a checklist (Annex 1). A certificate setting out the results of the spot check is to be handed to the driver of the vehicle, who must be in a position to present this on request in order to simplify or avoid subsequent checks.

If the extent of poor maintenance requires a more detailed examination, the vehicle may be subjected to a closer inspection in an approved roadworthiness testing station.

If the results of a roadside check show that a commercial vehicle does not meet the standards set out in the directive (Annex 2: Braking systems, exhaust emissions), or if it is not shown to comply with Directive 96/96/EC during a subsequent roadworthiness test at an approved testing centre and if it therefore constitutes a major risk to its occupants or other road users, the use of that vehicle on the public highway will immediately be banned.

Serious or repeated offences by a vehicle belonging to a non-resident shall be reported to the authorities in the EU country where the vehicle or company is registered. The country in which the offence has been repeated may then request that action be taken against the offender. Where such action is taken, the country of vehicle or company registration shall inform the country in which the offences have been noted of the action taken against the carrier or company concerned.

The Commission is assisted by the Committee on adaptation to technical progress introduced by Directive 96/96/EC.

References

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 2000/30/EC	10.8.2000	9.8.2002	L 203 of 10.8.2000

Successive amendments and corrections to Directive 2000/30/EC have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated versionis for reference only.

Annexes 1 and 2
Directive 2010/47/EU [OJ L 173 of 8.7.2010].

Related Acts

Commission Recommendation 2010/379/EU of 5 July 2010 on the risk assessment of deficiencies detected during technical roadside inspections (of commercial vehicles) in accordance with Directive 2000/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [Official Journal L 173 of 8.7.2010].