Roadworthiness
A properly maintained vehicle is less likely to be involved in a road accident. From a road safety point of view and taking into account that accidents involving HGV's have serious consequences in terms of road death and persons injured, technical inspections at the roadside are an important theme for ECR.
Under EU law, unannounced roadside inspections of commercial vehicles can be carried out in any EU country, whether or not the vehicle is registered in the EU.
These checks cover brakes, emissions and the vehicle's overall condition. Drivers may also be required to produce recent inspection reports or proof the vehicle has passed the mandatory roadworthiness test.
The legislation also emphasises the importance of proper cargo securing. Overturned lorries or lost loads endanger other road users and the blocked roads have a considerable economic cost.