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The Lithuanian Transport Security Administration (LTSA) has prepared a draft to amend the Order “On Technical Requirements For Motor Vehicles And Their Trailers”. This law defines which vehicles and trailers can be driven on Lithuanian roads, as well as what technical inspection test companies must follow when conducting mandatory technical inspection tests.
Still, the changes to be introduced have caught the attention of experts. As Ramūnas Vėlavičius, Deputy Director of Transporto Studijos, told Delfi, the changes may be related to traffic safety, but they are not such a big problem that it needs to be addressed now.
Adjust tire requirements
One of the changes is the indication that after the changes take effect, a significant deficiency will be the fact that the car is equipped with tires from different manufacturers or brands or tread patterns on the same axle or twin wheels. .
“When it comes to passenger cars, where the variety of manufacturers is large, the tires are also completely different, the installation of tires from different manufacturers could have an impact.” But imagine a heavy vehicle, like a tipper from a construction company with four axles, where there are twin wheels everywhere on the rear axles. A wheel was punctured at the construction site and now the manager will have to find an identical tire so that they are all the same on the axle. How much will that thing cost and is it adequate? R. Vėlavičius considered it.
According to him, it may even happen that car drivers look for identical tires to meet the requirements, but installing them will be new, worn and old, which will result in a height difference, which will have more impact and importance on road safety. than different manufacturers.
“It creates both an artificial problem and an additional financial burden on the driver of the car. In addition, the European Union (EU) Directive, which transposes the provisions of the law, does not contain provisions on tires from the same manufacturer or brand. Such a change should be based on the results of research and observations and be clearly reasoned ”, emphasized R. Vėlavičius.
According to him, in other countries, said adjustment is related to the drive axle or the drive axle, as well as to the toughest passenger cars, and that absolute, according to the expert, is excessive and creates an unweighted load for companies that do not cross the most difficult moments of today.
Deleted the word “strongly”
There are more innovations in planned changes. For example, said R. Vėlavičius, the current wording of the law states that it is considered a serious defect if the tire is seriously damaged, punctured and this can pose a threat to traffic safety. The new wording of the law removes the word “strongly” and leaves “the tire is punctured or damaged and this may pose a threat to road safety.”
“In my opinion, the description of the defect does not become clearer, and the word ‘severely’ suggests that any damage to the tire can be considered a serious defect,” said the interlocutor, adding that if this were done, it should be clearly defined. . security.
For example, the interlocutor refers to heavy transport, which often occurs in winter when driving on an icy road in such a way that frozen stones scratch the tread. Formally, such a violation is considered a defect, but whether it represents a threat to traffic safety will depend on the imagination of the driver.
Kent companies operating in Lithuania
Gintautas Ramaslauskas, Secretary of Transport Policy of the Lithuanian Transporters Union (LVS), told Delfi that the union has expressed its disagreement with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the LTSA regarding the requirements to be implemented.
“I don’t know on what basis the LTSA presented the requirement to tighten the tires.” They give no reason why such a change is needed, said the interlocutor. – The requirement to have the same manufacturer or the same brand is particularly surprising. We contacted representatives of tire manufacturers in Lithuania and they were also surprised, because the same manufacturer can sell their tires with several or even several brands, even though the tires have the same dimensions and the same tread. It’s hard to see how a brand can affect road safety. “
According to the specialist, if the requirements come into force, the smallest carriers operating within Lithuania will be the first to face problems, as well as companies working in the construction sector, road construction, quarries, because their Transport works in conditions where tires are very easy to damage.
“It will damage a tire, it will not find the same, it will have to buy the four new tires, which cost much more than a car,” said G. Ramaslauskas.
He also noted that carriers often use retreaded tires, which are legal and legal not only in Lithuania but also in other foreign countries. These tires are chosen by the cheapest companies.
“This carrier will go to buy retreaded tires from a company that retreads them, and they will have the same tread, the same dimensions, but different manufacturers, because retreaded companies collect, repair, retread and sell used tires by different manufacturers. . Therefore, the use of such tires will not be possible. So the requirements are really a concern for carriers. After all, the main criteria for road safety are the tire load index, the speed index and the construction of the tire, as well as that the dimensions of the tire are identical. But what the tread pattern marking or uniformity has to do with traffic safety when it comes to all four wheels of a truck on one axle is hard to understand. Especially since the EU directive does not provide for such a requirement either, “the expert was surprised.
It was demonstrated how to reduce the opacity of BMW, which barely passed the technical inspection.
© Lukas Bartkus
According to him, many Lithuanian companies will immediately feel the burden of the amended requirements, because for his technical inspection of transport, for example, tires from different manufacturers on the same axle can be destroyed during roadside inspections and a valid inspection receipt. It will not be broadcast.
Rear wiper jammed
Among the desired changes are new requirements for rear window wipers and wipers: The draft states that rear window wipers must function as intended by the manufacturer. If this provision is not implemented, it is considered a major deficiency and the car is technically messy.
“It is stated that they must act if it is mandatory, but there is no regulation on when their action is mandatory. In other words, we can interpret that if the manufacturer intended, it must act, because there is no other explanation, “explained R. Vėlavičius, noting that so far only the wipers and washers required to function have been inspected during the technical inspection.
According to the expert, rear windshield wipers and wipers are used extremely rarely, so in a frequent car they simply don’t work.
“I have turned off the rear windshield wiper of my car, because after driving on a gravel road, the rear window is worn, and when it rains and reverse gear is engaged, the wiper automatically turns on and scratches the glass across the entire dirt. Because I need it? I have side mirrors, after all there is a camera. Yes, so far my wiper works, but in Lithuania the average age of cars is 15 and most of their wipers don’t work, and their need is difficult to define, reasoned the interlocutor. “That’s why we’re being guided today that if both side mirrors work, the rear wiper might not work.”
Due to this demand, R. Vėlavičius does not even doubt, there will be a wave of outrage. According to the expert, it is natural that in cases where a rear wiper is required, it should work, but it is necessary to define when such equipment is mandatory.
“In addition, it not only states that the wipers and rear window washers must work, but also emphasizes that they work as intended by the manufacturer. And who can say today, as the manufacturer predicted? For example, does the detergent need to be heated or not, operating in one or two modes, changing the direction of the spray while driving or not? Requirements that lack specificity and clarity are being created, “said the interlocutor.
Some minor flaws, one big one
These changes are not the only ones. The draft law amendment states that several minor deficiencies of the same type identified during a road proficiency test, when their combined effect endangers traffic safety, become a serious deficiency.
“For example, I have identified three minor headlight failures and am already addressing them as a major failure. For example, the reflector on the back is damaged, the headlight reflector is damaged, and the lens of some lamp is broken. These are some minor deficiencies, or do they put road safety at risk? Probably yes? The expert shrugged, stressing that there is a lack of indication when the impact of deficiencies on traffic safety is greatest and when it is not.
The order is not final.
Eglė Kučinskaitė, Head of LTSA’s Department of Communication and International Cooperation, Delfi emphasized that the draft prepared is not final and that the amendments are editorial in nature and are not new in principle.
“However, we see that even those minor changes are up for discussion, so we will further refine the project and listen to all concerned,” said the expert.
According to her, comments on the prepared project are still awaited, after receiving them, the project will be reviewed and adjusted.
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