EU to unveil ESP and tire safety standards next week

Posted Tue May 20 2008 7:47 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Safety standards in the European Union are about to be toughened significantly with new mandates for carmakers set to be revealed next week. Some of the new rules likely to be introduced will include the fitment of advanced low-noise tires, electronic stability control and tire pressure monitoring systems as standard equipment.

The executive European Commission will also require manufacturers to build advanced emergency brakes and lane departure warning systems into all new heavy-duty vehicles, according to a proposal seen by Reuters. The proposal is still being drafted and will need to be approved by EU governments and the European Parliament before it can be ratified.

The biggest impact will be on tires, which will have to meet new noise emission limits, as well as wet grip requirements and rolling resistance – the latter is designed to help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The new rules will also help simplify safety legislation by replacing roughly 50 existing directives and 100 amendments with a single regulation. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has backed the idea, saying many of the safety features concerned were already in the works, but with tough new emissions standards set to roll-in over coming years some carmakers will find it hard adapting to all the changes.

Reader Comments

Tue May 20 2008 9:33 AM
Raptor says

This can only be good. Safety first.
Tue May 20 2008 10:27 AM
Gus says

Interesting, in the US TPMS is already required by law.
I wish stability control were required as well...
Tue May 20 2008 7:55 PM
RB says

maybe concentrate on the root cause - ie the driver

how about improving driver training???

I see along the way court cases where 'Jim' sues say BMW because the lane change avoidance system didn't work while Jim was driving - causing him to have an accident . (what the court as not told (and how can you prove it!) was that Jim was asleep at the time etc etc

The driver has to take some resposibility!
Tue May 20 2008 8:53 PM
admin says

RB - agreed. The license process in Germany is significantly more difficult than most other developed countries. It's a standard I hope more governments will roll out.

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