The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 96/53/EC as regards the time limit for the implementation of the special rules regarding maximum length in case of cabs delivering improved aerodynamic performance, energy efficiency and safety performance.
As a reminder, Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic was last revised by Directive (EU) 2015/719 of the European Parliament and of the Council, one of the aims of Directive (EU) 2015/719 was to improve the aerodynamics of motor vehicles falling within the scope of the Directive by allowing these to derogate from maximum lengths restrictions if certain conditions were respected.
The derogation from maximum length restrictions was granted for the rear of vehicles, for the mounting of aerodynamic devices, and for the front of vehicles to allow for a more rounded and aerodynamic shape of cabs of trucks.
Directive (EU) 2015/719 also included a moratorium of three years for the introduction of aerodynamic cabs after the date of transposition or application of the necessary amendments as regards technical type-approval requirements.
However, the moratorium deters manufacturers from improving aerodynamics of cabs as a way to achieve compliance with the upcoming CO2 standards for heavy goods vehicles.
This proposal for an amending decision only advances the date from which on more aerodynamic and/or safer cabins may be used as already provided for since Directive 2015/719.
The committee proposed that Council Directive 96/53/EC, as amended by Directive (EU) 2015/719, should apply from 6 months (instead of 4 months as proposed by the Commission) from the entry into force of the amending decision.