CLIMATE CHANGE

On 17–18 September 2025, Copenhagen hosted the 7th International PTI Workshop, jointly organized by the Danish Road Traffic Authority (Færdselsstyrelsen) and the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW). The event began with a lively “Come Together” evening on 16 September, offering participants a chance to connect in an informal setting before two days of intensive discussions.

The workshop brought together regulators, technical experts, industry representatives, and inspection authorities from across Europe and beyond. The focus was on the future of PTI in light of fast-evolving technologies and new political priorities.

The agenda reflected the most pressing issues in the sector:

• The forthcoming EU Roadworthiness Package and its legislative process.
• Emissions testing, including NOx and PN measurement methods.
• The roadworthiness of electric vehicles and enforcement challenges.
• Access to vehicle data and the inspection of electronic safety systems.
• Quality, supervision and the fight against fraud, with discussions on AI tools and automated evaluation.

CITA members played a central role throughout the programme:

• Mr. Gerhard Müller, CITA President, delivered a keynote on “New technologies and the challenges for PTI”, underlining the crucial role of inspection in maintaining safety and trust in an era of automation and digitalization.
• Mr. Pascal Buekenhoudt, CITA Vice-President Technical Affairs, chaired the workshops on emissions, leading discussions on NOx and PN testing.
• Mr. Marian Rybiansky, members of the CITA Bureau Permanent, and Mr. Jaroslav Olexa, co leader of CITA Topic Area E, moderated and presented in the Quality and Supervision sessions, covering AI-driven supervision tools and automated brake test evaluation.
• Ms. Lotte Dijkink, also member of the Bureau Permanent, contributed to the deep-dive session on the Roadworthiness Package.
• Mr. Víctor Salvachúa, leader of the CITA Electric Vehicles Task Force, chaired the EV workshops, addressing the enforcement of electric vehicle inspections.
• Mr. Fred Blüthner, leader of the CITA Vehicle Data and Connected Vehicles Task Force, participated in the workshop on data.

Their active involvement highlighted CITA’s leadership in shaping the inspection community’s response to current and future challenges.

Participants rotated through four dedicated workshop streams: Emissions, Electric Vehicles, Quality & Supervision, and Data. These sessions encouraged in-depth discussion and knowledge-sharing across different areas of expertise. One of the highlights was a live demonstration of plume chasing, showcasing innovative techniques for monitoring vehicle emissions in real time.

The final sessions explored societal and strategic aspects of PTI reforms, including roadside inspection findings and lessons from PTI reforms for older vehicles. The workshop concluded with summaries from all moderators and closing remarks by representatives of Færdselsstyrelsen and RDW.

CITA is pleased to announce that Ms. Lotte Dijkink (RDW) has joined the Permanent Bureau of CITA as an observer. She will serve in this role until the next CITA General Assembly in 2026.

Ms. Lotte Dijkink replaces Mr. Geert Konings.

CITA warmly thanks Mr. Geert Konings, who is retiring, for his longstanding commitment and contributions. Over the years, Mr. Konings has dedicated significant time and energy to supporting the mission and work of CITA, and his efforts have been instrumental in advancing the association’s goals.

We wish him all the best for the future and express our sincere gratitude for his valuable service.

On 21 August 2025, the European Union and the United States announced a Framework Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade. Among the many provisions in the agreement, one element stands out with direct implications for road safety and vehicle regulation: both parties “intend to accept and provide mutual recognition to each other’s [automotive] standards.”

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has raised strong concerns regarding this commitment. As ETSC Executive Director Antonio Avenoso stated, this decision is not a minor technicality but a political choice that risks putting trade convenience ahead of road safety. Europe has, over decades, built a reputation as a global leader in road safety regulation.

The General Safety Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 mandates the deployment of life-saving technologies such as:

• Automated Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA)
• Pedestrian and cyclist protection requirements
• Advanced Driver Distraction and Drowsiness Monitoring (DMS)

These measures are the result of years of evidence-based policymaking, and they underpin the EU’s Vision Zero strategy of eliminating road fatalities and serious injuries.

By contrast, U.S. federal vehicle standards do not guarantee the same level of protection. Allowing American vehicles into the EU market through mutual recognition – rather than through proven type-approval compliance – opens the door to larger, heavier, and less safe vehicles entering Europe.

For the international vehicle inspection community, this raises immediate challenges. Periodic Technical Inspection (PTI) systems are designed around European type-approval requirements. Introducing vehicles built to fundamentally different standards risks creating regulatory blind spots in inspection procedures, undermining decades of progress in ensuring roadworthiness and environmental compliance across the European fleet.

CITA supports ETSC’s warning that Europe must not undermine its safety framework in the pursuit of short-term trade advantages. Road safety standards are not bargaining chips – they are a public good that protect lives and reduce the economic and social burden of road crashes.

CITA President Gerhard Müller emphasized: “The blanket recognition of lower American vehicle safety standards would not only contradict all efforts to improve road safety in the European Union, but also lead to additional distortion of competition to the detriment of the European vehicle industry. Against the background of nearly stagnant numbers of traffic fatalities in Europe, I urge political leaders not to allow any compromises on the safety of American vehicles, but rather to make much greater efforts to achieve the goals of Vision Zero.”

Compromising on safety standards would not only weaken Europe’s regulatory credibility but would also expose road users to preventable risks. CITA therefore joins ETSC in calling on policymakers to prioritize lives over trade convenience.

More info:

• Joint statement between USA and EU

• ETSC press release

Last week, CITA President Gerhard Müller was invited by Mr. Georg Hönig, Head of the Department of Technical Vehicle Affairs at the State Government of Lower Austria, for a two-day technical visit focused on Roadside Inspections (RSI). Mr. Hönig, who oversees all vehicle inspections in the region, including RSI, organized a comprehensive program showcasing Austria’s inspection practices.

Day 1: Roadside Inspection Practices for Trucks and Special Vehicles / The first day began with a visit to a steady inspection site along the highway connecting the Czech Republic to Vienna. From a control room, trucks were automatically diverted using special traffic signals, then weighed and measured while driving at 25 km/h through a dedicated lane. Vehicles showing irregularities—or those selected by the police—were directed to the inspection area for a full technical check. President Müller joined an RSI of a truck transporting hazardous goods, which fortunately revealed only minor defects.

The program continued at a mobile inspection site, where police targeted smaller trucks with trailers (N1 with O2). Suspicious vehicles detected from the highway were escorted to the site. Two significant cases were observed: a trailer with completely non-functioning brakes, and a vehicle combination overloaded by several hundred kilos.

Later, Mr. Müller visited the brand-new governmental inspection centre in Wolkersdorf (KFZ-Prüfstelle Wolkersdorf), dedicated to special vehicle appraisals, such as modifications and technical changes.

Day 2: Motorcycle Roadside Inspections / The second day focused on motorcycle inspections. At a mobile site set up on a popular curvy road for motorcyclists, police conducted random stops. After checking documents, government technical experts carried out full inspections, including emissions and noise tests.

Roadside Inspection Organization in Austria / In Austria, RSI is a joint effort between the regional governments and the police. The police is responsible for identifying and stopping vehicles, conducting initial checks, and directing suspicious cases to inspection sites. Then, specially trained technical experts from the regional governments perform thorough inspections. Lower Austria operates steady inspection sites along highways, as well as mobile sites for trucks, passenger cars, and motorcycles.

Visit to ÖAMTC Driving Safety Center / In addition to the RSI program, CITA member ÖAMTC welcomed President Müller to its Driving Safety Center in Melk. The center provides a wide range of training courses for drivers, motorcyclists, and emergency services. As a passionate motorcyclist himself, President Müller even participated in a special motorcycle training session.

CITA is pleased to announce the publication of its new white paper titled "How to Inspect Brakes of Road Vehicles", a comprehensive guide addressing the critical role of brake testing in vehicle safety and PTI.

This technical paper was developed by the CITA Task Force on Brakes, a multidisciplinary expert group composed of representatives from leading PTI organizations, equipment manufacturers, and testing bodies. Their objective was to assess current inspection methods and recommend a harmonized, effective, and future-proof approach for evaluating braking systems in road vehicles.

The CITA Task Force on Brakes:

• Leader: Marian Rybiansky – TESTEK, a.s.
• Christian Fahry – FSD Fahrzeugsystemdaten GmbH
• Martin Kraus – DEKRA SE
• Jordi Brunet – VTEQ - VEHICLE TESTING EQUIPMENT, S.L.
• Peter Ondrejka – TESTEK, a.s.
• Georges Petelet – CAPELEC
• Christian Thalheimer – MAHA
• Tomislav Škreblin – CVH
• Patrik Persson – APPLUS+
• Benoît Job – Muller Automotive sas

Why This Paper Matters
Braking systems are among the most safety-critical components in vehicles. However, inspection procedures across countries remain fragmented, and traditional testing methods often face practical and technical limitations. This white paper evaluates the full spectrum of testing methodologies—including dynamic road tests, static brake testers with loaded and unloaded vehicles, extrapolation techniques, and the increasingly relevant reference value method.

Key Takeaways
The reference value method, as defined in UNECE Regulation No. 13, ISO 21069, and ISO 21995, offers the most reliable and efficient approach to brake performance testing in PTI environments. Unlike conventional methods, it allows for axle-by-axle verification of braking forces, is adaptable to both pneumatic and hydraulic systems, and does not require the vehicle to be fully loaded. To make this method widely applicable, the paper emphasizes the need for vehicle-type-specific reference data, accessible via the vehicle’s diagnostic interface, and supported by EU legislation.

This white paper provides valuable recommendations to ensure that brake testing remains robust, consistent, and adaptable to the evolution of vehicle technologies—especially with the growing presence of electric braking systems and connected vehicle diagnostics.

• Download the white paper here

CITA is pleased to announce the publication of the revised version of its Recommendation No. 3, now entitled "Relating to the Features of Measuring Instruments". This update replaces the original document, first adopted in December 1977, under the title "Relating to the Features of Measuring Apparatus".

The updated recommendation reflects significant developments in inspection technology and practice, aligning its content with current standards and regulations such as EU Directive 2014/45/EU, ISO 17020, and ISO 17025. It provides updated guidance on the design, installation, use, maintenance, and calibration of measuring instruments used in roadworthiness testing, ensuring reliable, safe, and consistent measurements across inspection centres.

This revision was carried out by the CITA Task Force "Quality", a group of members committed to reviewing and modernising long-standing CITA recommendations. Their efforts aim to ensure that all CITA documents remain relevant, technically accurate, and in line with the evolving needs of vehicle inspection systems worldwide.

We extend our gratitude to the Task Force members for their valuable contributions:

• Kanvaly Bamba, SGS
• Timo Kneuper, ÖAMTC
• Andreas Klocke, QMEV (leader of this TF)
• Jaroslav Olexa, TESTEK
• Juan Portillo Rojano, TÜV SÜD ATISAE S.A.U.
• François Togny, DEKRA
• Jasper Vos, RDW

The revised Recommendation No. 3 highlights best practices for the proper use of measuring devices during inspections, reinforcing the role of accuracy, safety, and traceability in vehicle compliance assessments. It also provides clear guidance for both inspectors and inspection bodies regarding the responsibilities tied to equipment handling, training, and maintenance protocols.

• The full revised Recommendation No. 3 is available for download here