The European Commission proposed a draft directive requiring Member States to supplement the annual roadworthiness test on commercial vehicles with random roadside inspections.
Recent surveys indicate that annual inspection on these vehicles does not guarantee an acceptable standard of maintenance throughout the year. Given that the road haulage market becomes fully liberalised as of 1 July 1998, and that heavy goods vehicles already cause around 20% of the annual 45,000 deaths on the roads of the European Union, action is needed now to improve road safety and air quality as well as to create the conditions of fair competition by ensuring that all vehicles are maintained to similar standards.
Mr Pischestsrieder presented to the Commissioner a new proposal which had been adopted unanimously by the ACEA Board - composed of the CEOs of the European car manufacturers - on 4th March. Under this new offer the Industry would commit itself to reduce the average CO² emissions of its new cars sold in the European Union to 140 g/km by 2008, corresponding to 6 l/100 km for petrol cars and 5.3 l/100 km for diesel cars.
This represents a reduction of 25% compared to the 1995 baseline of 186 g/km. Mrs Bjerregaard welcomed the fact that ACEA had made a new proposal. "The new proposal is clearly an improvement.
I am very pleased that the European Car Industry is showing that it takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. We will study the new offer with an open mind and discuss it with the Member States at the Environment Council on 23rd March", the Commissioner said.
11 MARZO 1998 - Bruxelles
