SME Chamber

Consultation: Motor Vehicles With Regard To Advanced Emergency Braking Systems

GRTU has been informed by the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority about the information below:Regulation (EC) No 661/2009 lays down basic requirements for the type approval of motor vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2 and N3 with regard to the installation of advanced emergency braking systems (AEBS). It is therefore necessary to set out the specific procedures, tests and requirements for such type approval.

 

Regulation (EC) 661/2009 provides that the Commission may adopt measures exempting certain vehicles or classes of vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2 and N3 from the obligation to AEBS under certain conditions. An analysis of cost/benefit and of technical and safety aspects has demonstrated that more lead time will be necessary before wide ranging requirements for AEBS can be applied to all types of vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2, N3. In particular attention has to be given to the braking technology and rear axle suspension system used on those vehicles when specifying detailed rules concerning the specific test and technical requirements for the type approval of those vehicles with regard to their AEBS. It is therefore appropriate to implement those requirements in 2 stages, starting with an approval level 1, which contains appropriate collision warning and emergency braking requirements for types of vehicle of categories M3 and N3 as well as types of vehicles of category N2 with a gross vehicle mass greater than 8 tonnes, provided that these types of vehicles are equipped with pneumatic or air-over- hydraulic braking systems and with pneumatic rear axle suspension systems.

Those requirements should be further extended and complemented in a second stage, through an approval level 2, to also apply to types of vehicle with hydraulic braking systems and non-pneumatic rear axle suspension systems and to include types of vehicle of category M2 and of category N2 with a gross vehicle mass equal to or less than 8 tonnes. The timing for implementing level 2 should provide sufficient lead time for gaining further experience with those systems and enable further technical developments in this field, as well as for the UNECE to adopt international harmonised performance and test requirements for the types of vehicle of the categories concerned. Therefore, no later than two years before the implementation date for the approval level 2, the Commission shall adopt the warning and braking activation test criteria for types of vehicle of category M2 and of category N2 with a gross vehicle mass equal to or less than 8 tonnes, taking into consideration the further developments at UNECE level on this issue.

The cost/benefit analysis has also demonstrated that the mandatory application of AEBS would generate more costs than benefits and proves therefore not to be appropriate for the classes of vehicles of category N2 tractors for semi-trailers with a gross vehicle mass between 3.5 and 8 tonnes, categories M2 and M3 vehicles of Class A, and articulated buses of category M3. In addition, technical and physical constraints make it impossible to install the collision detection equipment in a way that would ensure their reliable functioning on certain special purpose vehicles and off-road vehicles. Vehicles of those categories should therefore be exempted from the obligation to install AEBS.

Attached to this Information document please find the draft Commission Regulation for your perusal.

This draft Regulation is still being discussed at Commission level. Therefore interested parties are encouraged to send their comments/feedback regarding the draft Regulations by 21 November 2011.

For your reference, please find below the link to Europa website – Published Directives and Regulations – Motor vehicles

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/documents/directives/motor-vehicles/

Should more information be required and for the whole document kindly contact GRTU.

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