Adjusting EU rules on data access can improve security

Delays in adapting legislation to the use of data collected from vehicles while they are driving, indispensable for analyzing accidents, can have serious consequences on the number of traffic accidents and also on the reduction of emissions. An appeal to report the problem was sent to the EU Commission by representatives of the European road police network RoadPol, the European accident research and analysis association Evu and the leader of technical inspections Dekra. “Delays have concrete consequences on vehicle safety and environmental protection. A lack of action by the European Commission would lead to isolated solutions depending on individual Member States or vehicle manufacturers.” say the three signatories in a letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Indeed, a proposal for the extension of the type-approval legislation is awaiting approval and therefore risks being postponed until after the next European elections in 2024. The three organizations say sector-specific legislation is indispensable for proper enforcement in the future of vehicle inspections, traffic police checks and accident analysis. “Besides their main task of traffic control, European traffic police forces also have to investigate road accidents – says Elvira Zsinkai, president of RoadPol – With the increase in automation and connectivity in vehicles, the use of data is becoming an increasingly important factor in this area. Police need direct access to reliable vehicle data to obtain forensic evidence for accident reconstruction.” According to the president of the European accident research and analysis association Evu Jörg Ahlgrimm “in order to determine the cause of an accident, data generated in vehicles is becoming an important source of information. But Analysts will be able to find out what is success only if the relevant data is accessible without restrictions by manufacturers or system providers”. “Soon we will have to be able to determine whether, at a certain moment, the vehicle was controlled by the person in the driver’s seat or by an automated system – specified Ahlgrimm – and in these cases the authorities will absolutely have to have quick and easy access to the relevant data”. “With vehicles becoming ever more automated and connected, access to relevant on-board data is absolutely essential, otherwise police and prosecutors as well as vehicle inspection organizations and accident analysis experts will be unable to perform their vital functions – says Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO of Dekra – Delaying European legislation on the matter goes against our common objectives of road safety and sustainability and is against the interest of European consumers”.