EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 70/153

(2004/C 70 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2879/03

by Jan Dhaene (PSE) to the Commission

(29 September 2003)

Subject: Technical inspection of systems for indirect vision fitted on commercial vehicles

According to press reports, only 1,02 % of commercial vehicles in Belgium fail their technical inspection test because of badly-positioned or inadequate systems for indirect vision. 4,64 % of such vehicles are driven away, despite a defect being registered, but they are not required to undergo a second test. In the Netherlands, police checks showed that 85 % of systems for indirect vision are not properly adjusted (Source: Goca).

In the interim, technological development has not been standing still. Major commercial vehicle manufacturers are developing technology whereby sensors warn drivers of such vehicles about the presence of persons or objects which cannot be observed by direct vision.

Can the Commission answer the following:

— Will the procedures laid down in Directive 77/143/EEC (1) and those which will be laid down in legislation adopted on the basis of COM(1999) 458 (98/0097(COD)) (2) also apply to systems for indirect vision which are to be installed in accordance with the requirements to be laid down when the Council approves amendments to Directive 70/156/EEC (3), as set out in COM(2001)811 (2001/0317(COD)) (4)?

— Do the procedures laid down in Directive 77/143/EEC and those which will be laid down in legislation adopted on the basis of COM(1999) 458 (98/0097(COD)) also apply to systems for indirect vision already installed in accordance with the requirements laid down in national legislation adopted in advance of Council approval of amendments to Directive 70/156/EEC, as set out in COM(2001)811 (2001/0317(COD))?

— Is the Commission considering amendments to current legislation and to the proposals for legislation currently before the Council with a view to authorising sensor-based systems for indirect vision?

— Has the Commission any statistics relating to the positioning, quality of positioning and quality of installed systems for indirect vision?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2003)

The Community's Roadworthiness policy was framed over twenty-five years ago (framework Directive 77/143/EEC (5)) and originally only included trucks, buses, taxis and ambulances within its scope. Since then, it has been modified eleven times and now includes the inspection of private cars and light vans. It also details requirements for the testing of vehicle brakes and exhaust emissions.

The framework Directive and all its amendments were consolidated within 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. This Directive was last modified by Commission Directive 2003/27/EC of 3 April 2003 (6), which require more stringent emission testing for ‘Euro 3’ petrol and ‘Euro 4’ diesel driven vehicles.

Also, the recently introduced Directive 2000/30/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 6 June 2000 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Community (7) stipulates that heavy commercial vehicles shall be subject to ‘targeted’ roadside inspections and thereby supplements the regular roadworthiness testing requirements of Directive 96/96/EC. Directive 2000/30/EC was last modified by Directive 2003/26/EC (8) that aligns it with the technical provisions of Directive 96/96/EC.

The Commission has made a proposal relating to the type-approval of mirrors and supplementary systems for indirect vision and of vehicles equipped with these devices which is currently under discussion in the Parliament and the Council. This proposal allows certain vehicles under clearly defined conditions to use devices other than mirrors for indirect vision, including sensor-based systems.

Non-forward controlled trucks with a maximum mass 7,5 tonnes, which cannot fulfil the requirements for the front field of vision by using a front mirror, shall use a camera/monitor device. If neither of these options provides the adequate field of vision any other device for indirect vision shall be used. This device must be able to detect an object of 50 centimetre (cm) height and with a diameter of 30 cm within the defined field of vision (Annex III, item 5.6.1 of the above mentioned proposal).

Furthermore, vehicles designed for the carriage of passengers comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, as well as trucks with a maximum mass 7,5 tonnes having a special bodywork for refuse collection may be equipped at the rear with a device for indirect vision other than a mirror in order to ensure the defined field of vision behind the vehicle. If the requirements cannot be fulfilled with a camera/monitor device any other device for indirect vision fulfilling the detection requirements can be used (Annex III, items 10.1 and 10.2).

The Commission does not dispose of relevant statistics. However, it is about to launch a study on costs and benefits of the retrofitting of blind spot mirrors to existing vehicles. The outcome of this study should give indications on the positioning, quality of positioning and quality of installed systems for indirect vision. The study is expected to be finished before summer 2004 and the results will be made public on the Commission internet site.

(1) OJ L 47, 8.2.1977, p. 47.

(2) OJ C 116 E, 26.4.2000, p. 7.

(3) OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1.

(4) OJ C 126 E, 28.5.2002, p. 225.

(5) Council Directive 77/143/EEC of 29 December 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers.

(6) OJ L 90, 8.4.2003.

(7) OJ L 203, 10.8.2000.

(8) Commission Directive 2003/26/EC of 3 April 2003 adapting to technical progress Directive 2000/30/EC of the Parliament and of the Council as regards speed limiters and exhaust emissions of commercial vehicles, OJ L 90, 8.4.2003.