Article 1 Subject matter
In order to improve road safety and the environment, this Directive establishes minimum requirements for a regime of technical roadside inspections of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating within the territory of the Member States.
Article 2 Scope
1. This Directive shall apply to commercial vehicles with a design speed exceeding 25 km/h of the following categories, as defined in Directive 2003/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 12 ) and Directive 2007/46/EC: (a) motor vehicles designed and constructed primarily for the carriage of persons and their luggage comprising more than eight seating positions in addition to the driver’s seating position — vehicle categories M 2 and M 3 ; (b) motor vehicles designed and constructed primarily for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 tonnes — vehicle categories N 2 and N 3 ; (c) trailers designed and constructed for the carriage of goods or persons, as well as for the accommodation of persons, having a maximum mass exceeding 3,5 tonnes — vehicle categories O 3 and O 4 ; (d) wheeled tractors of category T5, the use of which mainly takes place on public roads for commercial road haulage purposes, with a maximum design speed exceeding 40 km/h. 2. This Directive does not affect the right of Member States to carry out technical roadside inspections on vehicles not covered by this Directive, such as light commercial vehicles of category N 1 having a maximum mass not exceeding 3,5 tonnes, and to check other aspects of road transport and safety, or to carry out inspections in places other than public roads. Nothing in this Directive prevents a Member State from limiting the use of a particular type of vehicle to certain parts of its road network for reasons of road safety.
Article 3 Definitions
The following definitions shall only apply for the purposes of this Directive: (1) ‘vehicle’ means any not rail-borne motor vehicle or its trailer; (2) ‘motor vehicle’ means any power-driven vehicle on wheels which is moved by its own means with a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h; (3) ‘trailer’ means any non-self propelled vehicle on wheels which is designed and constructed to be towed by a motor vehicle; (4) ‘semi-trailer’ means any trailer designed to be coupled to a motor vehicle in such a way that part of it rests on the motor vehicle and a substantial part of its mass and the mass of its load is borne by the motor vehicle; (5) ‘cargo’ means all goods that would normally be placed in or on the part of the vehicle designed to carry a load and that are not permanently fixed to the vehicle, including objects within load carriers such as crates, swap bodies or containers on vehicles; (6) ‘commercial vehicle’ means a motor vehicle and its trailer or semi-trailer used primarily for the transport of goods or passengers for commercial purposes, such as transport for hire and reward or own-account transport, or for other professional purposes; (7) ‘vehicle registered in a Member State’ means a vehicle which is registered or put into service in a Member State; (8) ‘holder of a registration certificate’ means the legal or natural person in whose name the vehicle is registered; (9) ‘undertaking’ means an undertaking as defined in point 4 of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009; (10) ‘technical roadside inspection’ means an unexpected technical inspection of the roadworthiness of a commercial vehicle carried out by the competent authorities of a Member State or under their direct supervision; (11) ‘public road’ means a road that is of general public utility, such as a local, regional or national road, highway, expressway or motorway; (12) ‘roadworthiness test’ means an inspection in accordance with point (9) of Article 3 of Directive 2014/45/EU; (13) ‘roadworthiness certificate’ means a roadworthiness test report issued by the competent authority or a testing centre containing the result of the roadworthiness test; (14) ‘competent authority’ means an authority or public body entrusted by a Member State with responsibility for managing the system of technical roadside inspections, including, where appropriate, the carrying-out of such inspections; (15) ‘inspector’ means a person authorised by a Member State or by its competent authority to carry out initial and/or more detailed technical roadside inspections; (16) ‘deficiencies’ mean technical defects and other instances of non-compliance found during a technical roadside inspection; (17) ‘concerted roadside inspection’ means a technical roadside inspection undertaken jointly by the competent authorities of two or more Member States; (18) ‘operator’ means a natural or legal person operating the vehicle as its owner or authorised to operate the vehicle by its owner; (19) ‘mobile inspection unit’ means a transportable system of test equipment needed to carry out more detailed technical roadside inspections, staffed by inspectors who are competent to carry out more detailed roadside inspection; (20) ‘designated roadside inspection facility’ means a fixed area for the performance of initial and/or more detailed technical roadside inspections which may also be equipped with permanently installed test equipment.
Article 4 Roadside inspection system
The technical roadside inspection system shall include initial technical roadside inspections as referred to in Article 10(1) and more detailed technical roadside inspections as referred to in Article 10(2).
Article 5 Percentage of vehicles to be inspected
1. For vehicles referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of Article 2(1), the total number of initial technical roadside inspections in the Union shall, in every calendar year, correspond to at least 5 % of the total number of these vehicles that are registered in the Member States. 2. Each Member State shall make efforts to carry out an appropriate number of initial technical roadside inspections, proportionate to the total number of such vehicles that are registered in its territory. 3. Information on vehicles inspected shall be communicated to the Commission in accordance with Article 20(1).
Article 6 Risk rating system
For vehicles referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) of Article 2(1), Member States shall ensure that the information concerning the number and severity of deficiencies set out in Annex II and, where applicable, Annex III found on vehicles operated by individual undertakings is introduced into the risk rating system established under Article 9 of Directive 2006/22/EC. For the attribution of a risk profile to an undertaking, Member States may use the criteria set out in Annex I. That information shall be used to check undertakings with a high risk rating more closely and more often. The risk rating system shall be operated by the competent authorities of the Member States. For the purpose of implementing the first subparagraph, the Member State of registration shall use the information received from other Member States pursuant to Article 18(1). Member States may allow additional voluntary roadworthiness tests. Information on compliance with roadworthiness requirements obtained from voluntary tests may be taken into account in order to improve the risk profile of an undertaking.
Article 7 Responsibilities
1. Member States shall require that the roadworthiness certificate corresponding to the most recent periodic roadworthiness test or a copy thereof or, in the case of an electronically produced roadworthiness certificate, a certified or original printout of that certificate, and the report of the most recent technical roadside inspection, be kept on board the vehicle when they are available. Member States may allow their authorities to accept electronic evidence of such inspections when information in that regard is accessible. 2. Member States shall require undertakings and drivers of a vehicle subject to a technical roadside inspection to cooperate with the inspectors and to provide access to the vehicle, its parts and all relevant documentation for the purposes of the inspection. 3. Member States shall ensure that the responsibilities of undertakings for keeping their vehicles in a safe and roadworthy condition are defined, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the drivers of those vehicles.
Article 8 Inspectors
1. When selecting a vehicle for a technical roadside inspection and when carrying out that inspection, inspectors shall refrain from any discrimination on grounds of the nationality of the driver or of the country of registration or entry into service of the vehicle. 2. When carrying out a technical roadside inspection, the inspector shall be free from any conflict of interest that could have any influence on the impartiality and objectivity of his decision. 3. The reward of inspectors shall not be directly related to the results of initial or more detailed technical roadside inspections. 4. More detailed technical roadside inspections shall be carried out by inspectors who fulfil the minimum competence and training requirements laid down in Article 13 and in Annex IV to Directive 2014/45/EU. Member States may provide that inspectors carrying out inspections in designated roadside inspection facilities or using mobile inspection units are to fulfil those requirements or equivalent requirements approved by the competent authority.
Article 9 Selection of vehicles for initial technical roadside inspection
When identifying vehicles to be subject to an initial technical roadside inspection, inspectors may select, as a priority, vehicles operated by undertakings with a high-risk profile as referred to in Directive 2006/22/EC. Vehicles may also be selected randomly for inspection, or where there is a suspicion that the vehicle presents a risk to road safety or to the environment.
Article 10 Contents and methods of technical roadside inspections
1. Member States shall ensure that vehicles selected in accordance with Article 9 are subject to an initial technical roadside inspection. In each initial technical roadside inspection of a vehicle, the inspector: (a) shall check the latest roadworthiness certificate and technical roadside inspection report, where available, kept on board, or electronic evidence thereof in accordance with Article 7(1); (b) shall carry out a visual assessment of the technical condition of the vehicle; (c) may carry out a visual assessment of the securing of the vehicle’s cargo in accordance with Article 13; (d) may carry out technical checks by any method deemed appropriate. Such technical checks may be carried out in order to substantiate a decision to submit the vehicle to a more detailed technical roadside inspection, or to request that the deficiencies be rectified without delay in accordance with Article 14(1). The inspector shall verify whether any deficiencies indicated in the previous technical roadside inspection report have been rectified. 2. On the basis of the outcome of the initial inspection, the inspector shall decide whether the vehicle or its trailer should be subject to a more detailed roadside inspection. 3. A more detailed technical roadside inspection shall cover those items listed in Annex II that are considered necessary and relevant, taking into account in particular the safety of the brakes, tyres, wheels, chassis and nuisance, and the recommended methods applicable to the testing of those items. 4. Where the roadworthiness certificate or a roadside inspection report demonstrates that an inspection of one of the items listed in Annex II has been carried out in the course of the preceding three months, the inspector shall not check that item, except where such a check is justified on the grounds of an obvious deficiency.
Article 11 Inspection facilities
1. A more detailed technical roadside inspection shall be carried out using a mobile inspection unit or a designated roadside inspection facility, or in a testing centre as referred to in Directive 2014/45/EU. 2. Where a more detailed inspection is to be carried out in a testing centre or designated roadside inspection facility, it shall be carried out as soon as possible in one of the closest practicable centres or facilities. 3. Mobile inspection units and designated roadside inspection facilities shall include appropriate equipment for carrying out a more detailed technical roadside inspection, including the equipment necessary to assess the condition of the brakes and brake efficiency, steering, suspension and nuisance of the vehicle as required. Where mobile inspection units or designated roadside inspection facilities do not include the equipment required to check an item indicated in an initial inspection, the vehicle shall be directed to a testing centre or facility where a detailed check of that item can be performed.
Article 12 Assessment of deficiencies
1. For each item to be inspected, Annex II provides a list of possible deficiencies and their level of severity to be used during technical roadside inspections. 2. Deficiencies found during technical roadside inspections of vehicles shall be categorised in one of the following groups: (a) minor deficiencies having no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment, and other minor non-compliances, (b) major deficiencies that may prejudice the safety of the vehicle or have an impact on the environment or put other road users at risk, or other more significant non-compliances; (c) dangerous deficiencies constituting a direct and immediate risk to road safety or having an impact on the environment. 3. A vehicle having deficiencies falling into more than one of the deficiency groups referred to in paragraph 2 shall be classified in the group corresponding to the more serious deficiency. A vehicle showing several deficiencies within the same inspection areas as defined in the scope of the technical roadside inspection referred to in point 1 of Annex II may be classified in the next most serious deficiency group if it is considered that the combined effect of those deficiencies results in a higher risk to road safety.
Article 13 Inspection of cargo securing
1. During a roadside inspection a vehicle may be subject to an inspection of its cargo securing in accordance with Annex III, in order to ensure that the cargo is secured in such a way that it does not interfere with safe driving, or pose a threat to life, health, property or the environment. Checks may be carried out to verify that during all kinds of operation of the vehicle, including emergency situations or uphill starting manoeuvres: — loads can only minimally change their position relative to each other, against walls or surfaces of the vehicle, and — loads cannot leave the cargo space or move outside the loading surface. 2. Without prejudice to the requirements applicable to transport of certain categories of goods, such as those covered by the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) ( 13 ) , cargo securing and inspection of the securing of cargo may be carried out in accordance with the principles and, where appropriate, the standards laid down in Section I of Annex III. The latest version of the standards laid down in point 5 of Section I of Annex III may be used. 3. The follow-up procedures referred to in Article 14 may also apply in the case of major or dangerous deficiencies related to cargo securing. 4. Member States shall provide that personnel involved in cargo securing checks are to be appropriately trained for that purpose.
Article 14 Follow-up in the case of major or dangerous deficiencies
1. Without prejudice to Article 14(3), Member States shall provide that any major or dangerous deficiency revealed by an initial or more detailed inspection is to be rectified before the vehicle is further used on public roads. 2. The inspector may decide that the vehicle is to be subject to a full roadworthiness test within a specified time limit if it is registered in the Member State where the technical roadside inspection has been carried out. If the vehicle is registered in another Member State, the competent authority may request the competent authority of that other Member State, via the contact points referred to in Article 17, to carry out a new roadworthiness test of the vehicle following the procedure laid down in Article 18(2). Where major or dangerous deficiencies are found in a vehicle registered outside the Union, Member States may decide to inform the competent authority of the country of registration of the vehicle. 3. In the case of any deficiencies which require prompt or immediate rectification due to any direct and immediate risk to road safety, the Member State or the competent authority concerned shall provide that the use of the vehicle in question is to be restricted or prohibited until those deficiencies have been rectified. The use of such a vehicle may be permitted in order to enable it to reach one of the closest workshops where those deficiencies can be rectified, on condition that the dangerous deficiencies in question have been fixed in such a way as to allow it to reach that workshop and that there is no immediate risk to the safety of its occupants or other road users. In the case of deficiencies that do not require immediate rectification, the Member State or the competent authority concerned may decide on the conditions and a reasonable timespan under which the vehicle may be used before the deficiencies are rectified. Where the vehicle cannot be fixed in such a way to allow it to reach the workshop, the vehicle may be brought to an available location where it can be repaired.
Article 15 Inspection fees
Where deficiencies have been found following a more detailed inspection, Member States may require the payment of a reasonable and proportionate fee that should be linked to the cost of carrying out that inspection.
Article 16 Inspection report and databases on technical roadside inspections
1. For each initial technical roadside inspection carried out, the following information shall be communicated to the competent authority: (a) country of registration of the vehicle; (b) category of the vehicle; (c) outcome of the initial technical roadside inspection. 2. On completion of a more detailed inspection, the inspector shall draw up a report in accordance with Annex IV. Member States shall ensure that the driver of the vehicle is provided with a copy of the inspection report. 3. The inspector shall communicate to the competent authority the results of the more detailed technical roadside inspection within a reasonable time following that inspection. The competent authority shall keep that information in accordance with the applicable legislation on data protection for not less than 36 months from the date of its receipt.
Article 17 Designation of a contact point
1. Member States shall designate a contact point which shall: — ensure coordination with contact points designated by other Member States as regards actions taken under Article 18; — forward the data referred to in Article 20 to the Commission; — ensure, where appropriate, any other exchange of information with, and the provision of assistance to, the contact points of other Member States. 2. Member States shall forward to the Commission the names and contact details of their national contact point by 20 May 2015, and shall inform it without delay of any changes thereto. The Commission shall draw up a list of all contact points and forward it to the Member States.
Article 18 Cooperation between Member States
1. In cases where major or dangerous deficiencies, or deficiencies resulting in a restriction or prohibition on the use the vehicle, are found in a vehicle not registered in the Member State of inspection, the contact point shall notify the results of the inspection to the contact point of the Member State of registration of the vehicle. That notification shall contain the elements of the roadside inspection report as set out in Annex IV and shall be communicated preferably through the national electronic register referred to in Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009. The Commission shall adopt detailed rules concerning the procedures for the notification of vehicles with major or dangerous deficiencies to the contact point of the Member State of registration in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 23(2). 2. In cases where major or dangerous deficiencies are found in a vehicle, the contact point of the Member State in which the vehicle has been inspected may request the competent authority of the Member State in which the vehicle is registered, via the contact point of the latter Member State, to take appropriate follow-up action, such as submitting the vehicle to a further roadworthiness test as provided for in Article 14.
Article 19 Concerted technical roadside inspections
On a yearly basis, Member States shall regularly undertake concerted roadside inspection activities. Member States may combine those activities with those provided for by Article 5 of Directive 2006/22/EC.
Article 20 Communication of information to the Commission
1. Before 31 March 2021 and before 31 March every two years thereafter, Member States shall communicate to the Commission, by electronic means, the data collected relating to the previous two calendar years and concerning the vehicles inspected in their territory. Those data shall indicate: (a) the number of vehicles inspected; (b) the category of vehicles inspected; (c) the country of registration of each vehicle inspected; (d) in the case of more detailed inspections, the areas checked and the items failed, in accordance with point 10 of Annex IV. The first report shall cover the period of two years beginning on 1 January 2019. 2. The Commission shall adopt detailed rules, in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 23(2), concerning the format in which the data referred to in paragraph 1 are to be communicated by electronic means. Pending the establishment of such rules, the standard reporting form set out in Annex V shall be used. The Commission shall report the data collected to the European Parliament and to the Council.
Article 21 Delegated acts
The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22 in order to: — update Article 2(1) and point 6 of Annex IV as appropriate in order to take account of changes to the vehicle categories stemming from amendments to the legislation referred to in that Article, without affecting the scope of this Directive; — update point 2 of Annex II in respect of methods in the event that more efficient and effective test methods become available, without extending the list of items to be tested; — adapt point 2 of Annex II, following a positive assessment of the costs and benefits involved, in respect of the list of test items, methods, reasons for failure and assessment of deficiencies in the event of a modification of mandatory requirements relevant for type-approval in Union safety or environmental legislation.
Article 22 Exercise of delegation
1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article. 2. The delegation of power referred to in Article 21 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 19 May 2014. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period. 3. The delegation of powers referred to in Article 21 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force. 4. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council. 5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 21 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed by either the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Article 23 Committee procedure
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Roadworthiness Committee referred to in Directive 2014/45/EU. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply. Where the committee delivers no opinion, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act and the third paragraph of Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
Article 24 Reporting
1. By 20 May 2016, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation and effects of this Directive. The report shall analyse, in particular, its effect in terms of improvement of road safety as well as the costs and benefits of the possible inclusion of N 1 and O 2 category vehicles within the scope of this Directive. 2. No later than 20 May 2022, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the application and effects of this Directive, in particular as regards the effectiveness and harmonisation of risk rating systems, notably in the definition of a mutually comparable risk profile of the different undertakings concerned. That report shall be accompanied by a detailed impact assessment analysing the costs and benefits throughout the Union. The impact assessment shall be made available to the European Parliament and to the Council at least six months prior to the submission of any legislative proposal, if appropriate, to include new categories of vehicles within the scope of this Directive.
Article 25 Penalties
The Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Directive and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. Those penalties shall be effective, proportionate, dissuasive and non-discriminatory.
Article 26 Transposition
1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by 20 May 2017, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof. They shall apply those measures from 20 May 2018. With regard to the risk rating system referred to in Article 6 of this Directive, they shall apply those measures from 20 May 2019. When Member States adopt those measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by Member States. 2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main measures of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.
Article 27 Repeal
Directive 2000/30/EC is repealed with effect from 20 May 2018.
Article 28 Entry into force
This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
Article 29 Addressees
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.