Motor vehicles and their trailers: roadside inspection of commercial vehicles (until 2018)
The increase of traffic within the European Union (EU) poses similar safety and environmental problems to all EU countries. In the interest of road safety, environmental protection and fair competition, the EU is therefore harmonising the roadside roadworthiness testing of commercial motor vehicles and their trailers within the EU. These are applicable to commercial vehicles intended to carry passengers or goods.
ACT
Directive 2000/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 June 2000 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Community
SUMMARY
This directive sets out the legal framework and supplements the rules on mandatory annual checks at testing stations for on-road commercial vehicles, under Directive 2009/40/EC (which repealed Directive 96/96/EC in 2009, and which has itself been repealed by Directive 2014/45/EU, taking effect on 20 May 2018).
Roadside checks are unannounced checks on a commercial vehicle travelling within a European Union (EU) country. They are carried out by the authorities on roads, in ports, or anywhere else considered appropriate.
This directive provides that a technical roadside inspection shall comprise 1, 2 or all of the following aspects:
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a visual check on the state of maintenance of the vehicle running on the road network;
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a check on the documents relating to the compliance of the vehicle with a technical roadside inspection and, if the driver presents it, a recent roadside technical inspection report;
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a check to uncover poor maintenance (smooth tyres, faulty braking system, etc.). In this instance, the inspector should take the most recent documents and any other safety certificate into consideration.
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The directive provides for the introduction by the EU countries of regular, appropriate roadside checks to be carried out without discrimination as to the driver’s nationality or vehicle registration. Every year these should cover a significant, representative cross-section of commercial vehicles of all categories.
Every 2 years, the EU countries must send the Commission information on the 2 previous years concerning the number of commercial vehicles checked.
The roadside checks provided for in the directive must be carried out in accordance with a checklist (Annex I). A certificate setting out the results of the spot check is to be handed to the driver of the vehicle. The driver must be in a position to present this on request in order to simplify or avoid subsequent checks.
If the extent of poor maintenance requires a more detailed examination, the vehicle may be subjected to a closer inspection in an approved roadworthiness testing station.
The use of a commercial vehicle on the public highway is immediately banned:
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if the results of a roadside check show that it does not meet the standards set out in the directive (Annex II: Braking systems, exhaust emissions), or
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if it is shown not to comply with Directive 2009/40/EC during a subsequent roadworthiness test at an approved testing centre and
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if it therefore constitutes a major risk to its occupants or other road users.
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Serious deficiencies of a vehicle belonging to a non-resident must be reported to the authorities in the EU country where the vehicle is registered. The country in which the deficiency has been found may then request that action be taken against the offender. Where such action is taken, the country of registration must inform the country in which the deficiency has been noted of the action taken against the offender concerned.
The Commission has the power to define certain minimum standards and methods for testing and to adapt them to technical progress.
REFERENCES
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Act |
Entry into force |
Deadline for transposition in the Member States |
Official Journal |
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Directive 2000/30/EC |
10.8.2000 |
9.8.2002 |
Successive amendments and corrections to Directive 2000/30/EC have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated version is for reference only.
Annexes I and II
Directive 2010/47/EU (OJ L 173 of 8.7.2010, pp. 33-46).
RELATED ACTS
Directive 2014/47/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Union and repealing Directive 2000/30/EC (Official Journal L 127, 29.4.2014, pp. 134-218).
Commission Recommendation 2010/379/EU of 5 July 2010 on the risk assessment of deficiencies detected during technical roadside inspections (of commercial vehicles) in accordance with Directive 2000/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Official Journal L 173 of 8.7.2010, pp. 97-105).
Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the application by the Member States of Directive 2000/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 June 2000 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Community Reporting Period 2009-2010 (COM(2013) 303 final of 24.5.2013).
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the application by the Member States of Directive 2000/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 June 2000 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the community Reporting Period 2011-2012 (COM(2014) 569 final of 12.9.2014).
Last updated: 13.08.2015