General Safety Regulation enters into force

In June last year, the European Union published the General Safety Regulation (GSR), which stipulated new regulations for trucks over 3.5 tonnes. This affects a large number of goods transports, setting out certain requirements for the approval of new trucks. Today, in July 2024, this regulation enters into force.

The name says it all: these measures aim to improve road safety, both for lorry drivers and other road users. These measures apply to transports type-approved as of this July, but also include requirements and exemptions for vehicles type-approved in 2026 and 2029. The new European legislation is also expected to help reduce emissions, promoting more efficient and sustainable freight transport.

But what exactly does this regulation consist of? At Conde Fernández Hermanos we review everything you need to know about the General Safety Regulation.

10 requirements of the GSR

Trucks over 3.5 tonnes registered from this month onwards will have to comply with the following requirements:

• Install an automatic ignition system. In the event of dry braking, the lights will come on to warn other drivers, reducing the risk of an accident.
• Implement reversing cameras, or sensors instead. A system is needed to inform the driver when manoeuvring, showing objects and people in the direction of transport.
• Similarly, a radar or sensor system should be incorporated in the front of the vehicle. Due to the height of the driver’s cab, it is difficult to see what is at ground level, making these tools very useful and necessary.
• In addition to these systems, there is another system for detecting blind spots while driving, informing the driver of the truck’s proximity to other vehicles and, above all, to cyclists.

• Have a tyre monitoring and control system in place, notifying the truck driver in case of tyre pressure loss. This system should cover not only truck tyres, but also trailers and semi-trailers.
• Monitor the speed at which the transport is travelling. If it exceeds the limit, the system will issue an alarm to inform the driver. Remember that speeding is still one of the main causes of road accidents, so this is an essential measure.
• Also monitor the truck driver’s condition. Tiredness and sleepiness are a risk when we are at the wheel, so a system should be installed to analyse the lorry driver and inform him when he needs to take a break. In the same way, it will also notify him/her when he/she has driven the legally permitted number of 4.5 hours.
• Implement breathalysers in all fleet transport. In fact, it is mandatory for all drivers to take the test. If it is positive, the system blocks the lorry, making it impossible to start the vehicle.

Moreover, as we have already mentioned, the measures do not end here. From 2026, it will be compulsory to install a system that detects and notifies the driver of a lack of concentration at the wheel. And in 2029, two more requirements will have to be met: the design of cabins with greater visibility and fewer blind spots, and the use of a black box.

But we still have two measures to go for our current year. The European Union continues to promote a sustainable and environmentally friendly freight transport sector. To this end, it seeks to promote the use of more efficient engines than the current ones, as well as the use of alternative fuels.

What does this legislation mean for the sector?

The adoption of the General Safety Regulation is no coincidence. Despite the efforts of the European Union, 2023 did not continue the downward trend in road accidents, with barely a 1% drop. Safety at the wheel depends on everyone, and at Conde Fernández Hermanos we take its guarantee very seriously. In the same way, the European Union is not giving up, and in addition to its objective of reducing accidents by 50% by 2030, it is adding “Zero Vision”: to achieve zero fatalities and serious accidents by 2050.

To achieve this, the measures set out in the GSR are necessary, but they also represent a growth opportunity for the freight transport sector. This is because they allow the driving process to be optimised, improving the performance of truck drivers and achieving greater efficiency when carrying out routes and delivering and collecting loads. In this sense, the General Safety Regulation complements already assumed rules, such as mandatory rest times, which not only increase safety, but also the skills of professionals behind the wheel.

Moreover, today we have the precise tools to ensure compliance with these requirements. Whether through GPS systems or more recent developments such as Artificial Intelligence, it is possible to monitor the driving times of the entire fleet, achieving an impeccable and, of course, safe service. Of course, the freight transport service is not something that will suffer as a result of the new regulations. Thanks to our extensive experience, at Conde Fernández Hermanos we know that a quality service must also offer safety.