EU requiring TPMS compliance on SUVs and light trucks

The European Union is advancing plans to broader the coverage of type approval provisions that mandate the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) in new vehicles. For some time the type approval rules have required that TPMS is fitted in new passenger cars, but some arguably borderline vehicles such as SUVs and pickup trucks have been exempt from the rules.

On 19 November 2018 the European Parliament published a memo modifying the type approval and TPMS rules, entitled: “Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval requirements for motor vehicles and their trailers, and systems,components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, as regards their general safety and the protection of vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users, amending Regulation (EU) 2018/… and repealing Regulations (EC) No 78/2009, (EC) No 79/2009 and (EC) No 661/2009”.

On 30 November 2018, the Council agreed its position on the new rules which means that negotiations can begin with the European Parliament as soon as it has adopted its position.

Following the announcement, Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, said: “TyreSafe supports this initiative from the EU. TPMS has been proven to reduce the instances of tyre-related incidents and its further implementation is a positive move for road safety. We must never let up in our efforts to make our roads safer for everyone. These new rules, which reflect the latest technical developments, will protect and help save lives.”

Norbert Hofer, Austrian Federal Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Technology commented:

“Under the proposed regulation, vans and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) will no longer be exempt from various safety features which until now have only been required for ordinary passenger cars. These features include tyre pressure monitoring, intelligent speed assistance, alcohol interlock, driver drowsiness monitoring and emergency stop signals.”

The 19 November proposal also has an impact on tyre labelling and suggests that:

“The Union should continue to promote the development of technical requirements for tyre noise, rolling resistance and wet grip performance of tyres at the United Nations level. This is because UN Regulation No 117 now contains these detailed provisions. The process of adapting the requirements on tyres to take account of technical progress should continue at United Nations level, in particular to ensure that tyre performance is also assessed at the end of a tyre’s life in its worn state and to promote the idea that tyres should meet the requirements throughout their life and not be replaced prematurely. Existing requirements in Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 relating to tyre performance should be replaced by equivalent UN Regulations.”

Complete documentation can be found here: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/11/29/safer-cars-for-safer-roads-council-agrees-to-tougher-rules-on-vehicle-safety/#