NGOs & Transport Businesses Call for Maintaining Remote Sensing Provisions in the Roadworthiness Package

A coalition of NGOs and transport industry groups has urged Members of the European Parliament’s TRAN Committee to retain mandatory targets for the deployment of remote sensing technology in the EU’s revised Roadworthiness Package. The European Commission’s April 2025 proposal includes binding requirements for member states to use remote sensing to monitor vehicle emissions and noise, but recent amendments risk weakening these provisions by removing screening targets and key enforcement measures. The coalition warns that such rollbacks would significantly undermine the technology’s potential to improve air quality and public health. Remote sensing technology is recognised as a mature and effective tool for identifying high-emitting vehicles during real-world driving conditions, a task at which traditional roadside inspections often fall short. Although only 1 to 5% of vehicles on the road, these high emitters contribute disproportionately to nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution, accounting for about 30% of emissions. Pilot deployments have demonstrated that remote sensing can increase detection success rates from a mere 2% in random checks to over 50%, making it roughly 25 times more efficient and offering substantial administrative and environmental benefits. The letter from the coalition highlights the ongoing public health risks posed by millions of diesel vehicles in Europe that continue to emit excessive pollutants, potentially due to illegal defeat devices exposed by the Dieselgate scandal. Without effective intervention, an estimated 81,000 premature deaths could occur across the EU and UK by 2040. The groups also emphasise that supporting remote sensing technology aligns with European industrial interests, as EU companies lead globally in this sector, enhancing competitiveness while addressing environmental challenges. To safeguard the air quality improvements envisioned in the Roadworthiness Package, the coalition calls on MEPs to maintain mandatory deployment levels for remote sensing, allowing member states flexibility in enforcement actions. They advocate for a gradual rollout with increasing minimum deployment targets and propose incentives such as reduced roadside inspection quotas once remote sensing systems are effectively established. This balanced approach aims to ensure that remote sensing realises its full potential in reducing emissions and protecting public health across Europe.