ROADPOL, in collaboration with the European Association for Accident Research and Analysis (EVU) and TIC expert DEKRA, is actively pushing for automated vehicle data access to be addressed by the highest authorities in the EU.
The European Roads Policing Network is urgently appealing to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to address specific legislation concerning the future of automated vehicles.
In a joint letter to Mrs Von Der Leyen, the three entities highlighted the need for sector-specific legislation to ensure effective vehicle inspection, road policing, and crash analysis in the future.
They emphasized that delays in passing legislation could have real-world consequences.
The proposed extension of type approval legislation, currently awaiting approval, risks being delayed until after the next European elections in 2024.
Without a proper regulatory framework, manufacturers’ exclusive technical access to vehicle data could hinder the fulfilment of essential tasks.
The letter warned that a lack of action by the European Commission would result in fragmented solutions across member states or among individual manufacturers.
Elvira Zsinkai, President of ROADPOL, emphasized the importance of direct access to reliable vehicle data for traffic police forces to secure forensic evidence crucial for accident reconstruction. As vehicle automation and connectivity increase, data access becomes an increasingly significant factor in their investigations.
DEKRA CEO Stan Zurkiewicz stated that access to relevant in-vehicle data is absolutely essential for the effective functioning of police, prosecutors, vehicle inspection organizations, and accident analysis experts. Delays in European legislation would go against the interests of consumers, he added.
ROADPOL stresses that vehicle data plays a vital role in determining the cause of a crash, and without accessible data, accident analysts will face limitations imposed by manufacturers or system providers. Quick and easy access to relevant data is crucial for authorities to establish whether a vehicle was controlled by a person in the driver’s seat or an automated system at a specific point in time.
ROADPOL, EVU, and DEKRA experts advocate for a user-centric approach, calling for fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory access to data under the “FRAND” (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) principles. They urge the European Commission to promptly draft sector-specific legislation and avoid any further delays, ensuring that it can be referred to co-legislators within the Parliamentary term.