Key vote due in European Parliament on vehicle check regulations

Members of the European Parliament are set to vote in the coming weeks on revision of the EU’s Roadworthiness Package, a key file that will shape how vehicles are checked for safety across Europe.

The report, led by German MEP Jens Gieseke, includes some positive steps, notably extending periodic technical inspections to a wider range of motorcycles. The ETSC (European Transport Safety Council) has welcomed proposals to require testing for motorcycles between 50cc and 125cc, significantly expanding coverage beyond current EU rules.

However, the ETSC is calling on MEPs to go further and address critical safety gaps, and a central priority is the inclusion of vans in roadside inspection regimes. Vans are increasingly used for deliveries and commercial transport, yet remain under-checked.

With new technologies introduced under the EU’s General Safety Regulation, ETSC is also calling for mandatory checks of advanced safety systems during inspections, and as well as reinstating proposals for more frequent checks of older vehicles.