Each car has to pass an approval procedure before it can be sold on the market. Safety aspects play an important role in the regulatory process of type approval or integrated testing. Passive and active safety aspects are met by the structural design of the car and more in particular the design of the braking and steering units. Already a large number of regulations and standards exist concerning the type approval of standard cars. The European Mobility Group (EMG), the organisation of European car adaptation firms asked the Langstraat to summarize the conclusions of the Telaid project on existing regulations with respect to car-adaptations. This report gives an overview of existing gaps where car-adaptations are concerned. Especially the European regulations with respect to steering and braking are discussed further. Powered braking and steering adaptations are built into a standard car and used by Drivers with Special Needs (DSN) when they are not able to apply the forces needed for braking and steering in a standard car. Like able-bodied drivers, DSN should still be able to control the vehicle if a failure occurs in the adapted steering or braking system. European harmonization of the National regulations with respect to car-adaptations is needed. This report can serve as a starting point for the discussion within the EMG. Apart from the discussion on braking and steering, the gaps with respect to for instance vision, seating and the use of secondary controls could be elaborated further. (A)
Samenvatting