The EU will soon have a simpler, standardised system for the type-approval of motor vehicles, following a vote on Tuesday by Parliament's Internal Market Committee. Members of the committee decided to beef up plans to introduce new rules on the registration, sale and use of cars, with the aim of improving road safety and protecting the environment better.

Ordinary tyres, all-weather tyres and snow tyres, the design and manufacture of cars in general and the use of modern technology on cars - all these things influence the safety and environmental impact of motor vehicles. A single regulation, directly applicable in all the Member States, will soon synthesise all the rules on these matters, replacing around fifty existing directives. Members of the Internal Market Committee approved the Commission's draft legislation with amendments when they adopted a first-reading co-decision report by Andreas Schwab (EPP-ED, DE) by 32 votes to 10 with 7 abstentions.

Following the vote, Mr Schwab was optimistic: "We are going to improved road safety in Europe by going further than the Commission. The new technologies must be pushed ahead faster, to set lower sound limits in future years and thus improve public health by reducing harmful road traffic noise".

Safer roads

The safety of road vehicles is steadily improving, the number of people killed on Europe's roads having fallen by 24% since 2001 thanks to better car design and manufacture. In this area the new regulation lays down a number of rules to be observed by manufacturers. But new safety technology, already available on top car models, can also help cut accident risks. The regulation will make such technology compulsory on ordinary cars too. An example is the electronic stability control system (ESC), which helps the driver keep control of his vehicle. However, advanced emergency braking systems (AEBS) and lane departure warning systems (LDW) are due to be installed on lorries first as they are too expensive to be made compulsory on all types of vehicle.

Greater environmental protection, lower energy consumption

Some of the rules on tyre standards have also been revised, as regards not just safety but also environmental impact. Rolling resistance and pressure affect the noise levels and CO2 emitted by vehicles. The new regulation lays down various standards on tyres which will cut CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. It also makes the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) compulsory. MEPs want this measure to apply not only to private cars, as the Commission proposes, but also to lorries.

Gradual entry into force

The new regulation will be easier to apply and easier for consumers and industry to understand. It replaces a number of directives, is directly applicable in the Member States and reflects car safety standards harmonised by the United Nations.

Once adopted by Parliament and Council, it should apply from 1 November 2011, say MEPs. But various transition periods are provided for, in some cases until 2018, to enable the car industry to adapt to the new measures. "My main concern is to ensure that this European regulation does not impose extra costs on consumers and manufacturers. We want to see to it that drivers will save money by using less petrol in a healthier environment with lower CO2 emissions", commented the rapporteur.