The draft order applies to vehicles and their components.

Order of the Minister for Infrastructure and the Environment amending the Order on vehicles, with respect to the adjustment of several permanent requirements and usage requirements, as well as several technical amendments (periodic maintenance of the Order on vehicles for 2018)

The draft order includes amendments to the Order on vehicles, as part of periodic biennial maintenance.

With respect to permanent vehicle requirements, these are brought more in line with international and European approval requirements in a number of respects. For instance, it is provided that marker lights may be combined into a single device on the same side of the vehicle as long as the lights are visible from the front as well as the rear. Furthermore, with respect to commercial vehicles it is stipulated that, if a close-proximity mirror cannot be mounted for technical reasons, for example in some commercial vehicles with a sloping cab, such a mirror is not obligatory. Also, one or two additional brake lights are now permitted on motorcycles rather than only a single additional brake light. Further, permanent requirements are included for the operation of the eCall on-board system.

The usage requirements clarify, among other things, the ban on the use of metal snow chains, while also including additional usage requirements for the rear bumper of a vehicle or combination of vehicles when transporting lengthwise-divisible loads. With respect to the length of a tractor truck and trailer combination, it is expressly provided that violation of certain provisions is permitted only if the entire length of the loading platform (except for the raised part of the loading platform of a semi-low loader) is used for the transport of indivisible loads. Furthermore, the specific restrictions in respect of unpaved roads are removed.