Possible EU legislation on winter tyres?

Szabolcs Schmidt, head of the European Commission’s road safety unit, said he agrees that winter tyres could improve road safety. He announced there will be a 2013 EU study to evaluate the role that tyres could have in increasing road safety. Schmidt spoke at a policy breakfast at the European Parliament hosted by German MEP Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, who is vice chairman of the body’s transport committee. The event was organised by Mobivia Groupe with the support of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association.

Koch said that while a pan-European definition of “winter tyre” should be established, each EU member state should decide how best to legislate for local conditions. “Any EU legislation on winter tyres should take into consideration the different climate conditions of European countries and regions,” agreed Fazilet Cinaralp, secretary general of ETRMA. She called on EU members to apply the winter tyre definition set by the EU in Regulation 661/2009, which will take effect in November.