GSR-2

Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 concerning the general safety of motor vehicles and the protection of vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users (General Safety Regulation 2) came into force on 5 January 2020. It introduces various safety-related mandatory driver assistance systems in cars, buses and commercial vehicles, and eases the transition to autonomous driving. The GSR-2 does not yet make any stipulations concerning the use of the new regulations for special purpose vehicles such as motor caravans and caravans. These will be drawn up by the Commission during the course of 2021. The ECF is working closely with the Commission in this decision-making process.

From the point of view of the caravanning industry, it is the crash regulations required of cars and light commercial vehicles in particular that cannot be implemented. The crash tests designed for cars, SUVs and vans cannot be used for motor caravans, since these are modelled on accident situations that are typical of cars. The active safety systems introduced by the General Safety Regulation 2 pertaining to chassis in motor caravans will reduce the number of accidents in which motor caravans are involved, and further improve the safety level of motor caravans. From the point of view of the caravanning industry, existing exceptions to active safety systems could also be rethought. Destructive testing of motor caravans is not achievable for the manufacturers, who are predominantly medium-sized companies. Passive safety requirements need to be covered through the chassis.