Abstract
The incidence of the bad mechanical state of vehicles on accidents no longer needs to be demonstrated. Indeed, recent surveys show that mechanical problems are a contributive factor in 10% and more of road accidents. Several American states, the Canadian provinces as well as various countries from the European Communities instituted technical control programmes for checking the safety components of vehicles. However, these programmes vary from one country to another as far as the target vehicle categories as well as the control modes are concerned.