MEPs urged to strengthen vehicle checks ahead of key Parliament votes

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. ETSC has welcomed proposals to require testing for motorcycles between 50cc and 125cc, significantly expanding coverage beyond current EU rules.

However, ETSC is calling on MEPs to go further and address critical safety gaps.

A central priority for ETSC is the inclusion of vans in roadside inspection regimes. Vans are increasingly used for deliveries and commercial transport, yet remain under-checked.

ETSC therefore urges MEPs to support mandatory roadside inspections for vans, including risk-based targeting of high-risk operators.

With new technologies introduced under the EU’s General Safety Regulation, ETSC is also calling for mandatory checks of advanced safety systems during inspections.

Modern vehicles increasingly rely on features such as lane-keeping assistance and other assisted driving systems. Yet gaps remain in current proposals, with concerns that faults could go undetected if they are not systematically checked.

ETSC is also urging lawmakers to future-proof the legislation by ensuring that all automated driving systems and their associated data recording systems are covered by inspection requirements, as well as assisted driving systems.

While the Gieseke report takes a step forward by expanding testing to smaller motorcycles, ETSC reiterates that all powered two-wheelers should be subject to basic safety checks.

Finally, ETSC warns that the Parliament should reinstate proposals for more frequent checks of older vehicles. As Europe’s vehicle fleet continues to age, annual inspections for cars and vans over ten years old are essential to reduce the risk of technical failure.

With Parliament votes imminent, ETSC is calling on MEPs to seize this opportunity to strengthen the EU’s vehicle inspection rules and ensure they reflect today’s safety challenges and tomorrow’s technologies.

Read ETSC’s briefing on the proposals to update regulations on vehicle inspections.