The dangers of the United Nations’ Geneva office taking over responsibility for regulating aspects of European transport have been thrown into sharp focus, after a draft for a legally binding standard designed to cut noise from cars allowed for traffic noise to get much louder.
Cars are set to become noisier as a result of a new legally-binding measurement standard to be agreed by a United Nations body.
Noise emissions from motor vehicles are regulated by the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), a body of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), based in Geneva.
The Commission has rejected several suggestions by MEPs to make the forthcoming revised EU law on tyre labelling easier for the public to understand.
Editorial by Jos Dings, Director
There’s an old joke that says the EU would not be allowed to be a member of itself. This is because it insists that all member states must have parliaments whose workings are open to the public, but the EU’s main decision-making body, the Council of Ministers, meets behind closed doors.
Measures to cut fuel consumption and noise through better tyres have moved a step closer, and must now await next month's European Parliament elections.
Motorists should soon be able to get more information on which tyres cut their fuel consumption, which improve their safety and which are quieter, following a vote in the European Parliament's industry committee last month.
Tyre and vehicle retailers will have to provide customers with detailed information on the energy efficiency, safety and noise performance of tyres following a vote in the European Parliament's industry committee today.
MEPs have voted to delay action on vehicle tyre performance that will reduce noise and improve fuel efficiency. Agreement had been reached that would make some progress, but a plenary vote means the introduction of new tyres could be delayed for 14 years.