Brent ToderianAug 27, 2025
This is an INSANE decision by the E.U. “By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the U.S., the E.U. has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice that puts trade convenience ahead of saving lives.” This will kill people.

ETSC: Mutual recognition deal ...
ETSC: Mutual recognition deal with U.S. will cost lives on Europe’s roads

By signing up to mutual recognition of vehicle standards with the United States, the European Union has waved the white flag on road safety. This is not a technical detail – it is a political choice…

ETSC
Show threadvampirdaddy

@brenttoderian.bsky.social
Those are classified as light trucks in the USA, right?

So you’d need an according commercial vehicle driver’s license (C1, has to be renewed every 5 years with medical check-up), regardless weight, as the classification is also transferred, right?

Aug 28, 2025 at 6:05amWeb
Show threadDave McAug 28, 2025
@vampirdaddy @brenttoderian.bsky.social you can drive something rated to 3.5t on a standard car licence (edit: corrected). You could easily get a huge Ford F150 within that with enough payload to treat it like an obscene family car. It wouldn't be able to carry anywhere close to its theoretical capacity, but I don't think buyers will care. They're about the size of a large panel van like a 6m Fiat Ducato, so big, but not unprecedented. But footprint isn't the issue, it's safety.
Show threadvampirdaddyAug 28, 2025
@guigsy @brenttoderian.bsky.social
I was thinking along the lines of malevolent compliance - with the EU accepting a US classification, but also interpreting it in a most inconvenient way, thus a constructed need for a "heavier" driver's license for that "commercial truck" despite what's allowed by gross weight.
Show threadDave McAug 28, 2025

@vampirdaddy @brenttoderian.bsky.social they are just classed by weight. It'd be a stretch to invent a new class just to catch these vehicles, but not panel vans.

I guess they could insist that if the vehicle is capable of carrying a large payload, then the VIN plate must allow for a minimum proportion of that capacity. They've done similar for motorhomes. It would also stop 7.5t Iveco vans from being plated at 3.5t to avoid tachograph and driving time restrictions.

Show threadvampirdaddyAug 28, 2025

@guigsy @brenttoderian.bsky.social
The vehicles conforming to EU standards are classified in the EU by weight.

But if the EU accepts US certifications then maybe also the corresponding US classifications (independent of the EU weight classes)?

I'm just looking for possible vectors of malice compliance.

Show threadDave McAug 28, 2025

@vampirdaddy @brenttoderian.bsky.social Not sure, but I think it's more messed up than that. There's vehicle classes which determine the safety requirements and periodic testing, and the "road tax" class. I think the US Light Truck is equivalent to these classes.

But the driver's license is mostly broken down by the number of wheels, weight and towing. Which doesn't actually neatly match the vehicle classes.

I guess the individual countries could set a very high road tax?