EU road safety progress under threat from new era of deregulation - Lemmy.zip

ETSC highlights five critical areas where recent legislative changes or proposals are actively undermining safety: * Small electric vehicle safety “freeze” : a promised 10-year halt on new safety requirements for small EV’s [https://etsc.eu/etsc-response-to-the-european-commissions-proposal-on-the-small-affordable-cars-initiative/], despite 40% of road deaths occurring in the urban environments where these vehicles proliferate. * The rise of 60t “megatrucks”: pushing for cross-border movement of massive “gigaliners [https://etsc.eu/trilogues-on-weights-and-dimensions-europe-must-not-allow-unchecked-growth-of-megatrucks/]” that pose extreme risks to infrastructure and vulnerable road users. * Standards dilution: the risk of a shift toward mutual recognition of US vehicle standards [https://etsc.eu/etsc-mutual-recognition-deal-with-u-s-will-cost-lives-on-europes-roads/], threatening to flood EU markets with heavier, less-regulated SUVs and pickups. * Younger lorry drivers: revisions to the Driving Licence Directive that lower minimum ages for HGV drivers [https://etsc.eu/new-eu-rules-on-driving-licences-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/], despite clear evidence of higher risk profiles for younger operators. * Technical inspection gaps: leaving 70% of the motorcycle fleet [https://etsc.eu/ministers-debate-eu-roadworthiness-rules-etsc-warns-on-excluding-70-of-motorcycles-from-testing/] (mopeds and motorcycles up to 125cc) without mandatory EU-wide annual safety checks.