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EU Transport Commissioner, Siim Kallas, welcomes today’s vote in the European Parliament to endorse proposals for tougher vehicle testing rules to save lives, including for motorcycles. More than 5 people die on Europe’s roads every day in accidents linked to technical failure of vehicles.

The proposed legislation aims to increase road safety by introducing more harmonised rules and higher standards for vehicle roadworthiness testing. However, key measures in the proposal – including testing for motorcycles, the most vulnerable category of road users – came under threat as Member States in the Council voted to water down the planned measures.

Technical defects contribute heavily to accidents. They are responsible for 6% of all car accidents, translating into 2000 fatalities and many more injuries yearly. 8% of all motorcycle accidents are linked to technical defects.

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.

Speaking after the vote, Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said:

The Commission expects the legislative process to be concluded before the end of this year.

Background

The roadworthiness package consists of the three Commission proposals for:

• a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing directive 2009/40/EC;
• 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;
• a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 1999/37/EC on registration documents for vehicles.