On Thursday, 21 February, members of the European Parliament's Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) adopted the Regulation on type-approval requirements for motor vehicles, significantly strengthening the rules for direct visibility of road users from truck cabins, intelligent speed assistance systems and personal data protection.
The direct visibility of vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, etc.) from the driver's seat in the cabins of heavy goods vehicles was already included in the European Commission's proposal, which was a first (see EUROPE 12022).
However, MEPs went into more detail by stressing that this principle of direct visibility requires the elimination of blind spots in front of the driver and a “significant” reduction for side windows. In addition, MEPs changed the implementation dates for the approval of new models (36 months after the application of the Regulation compared to 48 months in the Commission’s proposal) and for sales (78 months compared to 84 months in the Commission’s proposal).
MEPs retained the introduction of Intelligent Speed Assistance systems, but added the possibility of deactivating assistance - to the great displeasure of the Greens/EFA - when the driver receives false alerts or “improper feedback” due to bad weather conditions or improper road markings. This device must be “easily” activated.
In addition, the text adopted by MEPs strengthens the protection of drivers' data. Thus, "accident data recorders" have been strictly limited to accidents. The Parliament’s position insists that the data not be permanently and continuously recorded and that it be made anonymous. Finally, the data must remain within the vehicle ('closed-loop system’).
In addition, MEPs amended the definitions, opting for a more “inclusive” definition of “vulnerable road users”, indicating that they are users who use vehicles with “one or more wheels” without “protective bodywork”.
In general, MEPs supported the various proposals put forward by the European Commission - often by specifying the rules - and retained for all vehicles, for example, ‘alcohol interlock installation facilitation’, as well as the introduction of ‘driver drowsiness and attention warning’ systems, ‘advanced driver distraction warning’ systems, ‘advanced emergency breaking systems’ and ‘lane-departure warning systems’.
According to one source, the clarifications provided by the European Parliament are of cardinal importance, as they will require the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) to retain them in the detailed drafting of safety requirements for future vehicles.
The first interinstitutional meeting with the Council is expected to take place on 14 March. A second meeting is reportedly already scheduled for 25 March.
The negotiations are expected to be both contentious and technical, given that the Council was less prescriptive than the initial proposal (see EUROPE 12149). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)