© MARC HERREMANS – MEDIAHUIS
In the night from Wednesday to Thursday, the Flemish Parliament gave the green light to the decree of Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open VLD) that provides for a pilot project in which certain re-inspections of cars can be carried out at recognized repairers instead of at the car inspection center. .
This is a five-year pilot project that can be extended for another five years if the evaluation is positive. Initially, re-inspections will be considered for which no measuring equipment is required, so that repairers do not have to invest. This mainly concerns defects in tires, mirrors, lights and windows. Subsequently, re-inspections with measuring equipment may also be considered, such as the adjustment of the dipped beam headlights.
Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters expects that at cruising speed, approximately 300,000 re-inspections (out of a total of 700,000 re-inspections) can shift from the inspection bodies to recognized repairers.
Next year
While critics, such as the opposition party Vooruit, have reservations about the possible problems in terms of impartiality and independence, the minister is convinced that the entire sector, including the sector federation GOCA, agrees with the plans.
“With the draft decree, we want to reduce the pressure on the recognized inspection bodies on the one hand and allow the customer to save time on the other,” the minister explains. “Thanks to this pilot project, you do not have to go to the inspection again after certain defects have been discovered. Both repair and re-inspection can be done by a recognized repairer.”
The intention is for the measure to come into effect by early 2025.
PVDA - De Lijn and NMBS should simply march well instead of the chaos of today. This requires: a recovery plan to finally guarantee good service to those who ride the bus or train, an expansion plan for more supply, and affordable public transport that is free at De Lijn
- We opt for one ticket for train, tram, bus, metro or ferry and much better coordination of the different transport companies.
- We are against increasing fuel taxes and measures that make life difficult for motorists, such as mileage charges or low-emission zones
- Young people must be able to cycle safely and autonomously to school or to their hobbies or sports activities. To this end, we use the child standard: safe, conflict-free routes to and from school environments and culture, youth and sports facilities
- We are developing a European and public network of international day and night trains, making major cities and tourist areas accessible
GREEN - Zero traffic fatalities
- Speed limit of 30 km/h in residential areas
- Virtually free public transport for young people and the elderly (for 1 euro per month)
- Social leasing so that everyone can drive electric from 100 euros per month
- Safe cycle paths everywhere in Brussels and Flanders by 2030
VLAAMS BELANG - A revision of the speed limit system. If possible and appropriate, the maximum speed outside built-up areas is 90 km/h and on the motorway 130 km/h between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- The replacement of complicated intersections with conflict-free roundabouts, tunnels and viaducts
- In the long term, a partial privatization of the train offer (not the infrastructure) according to the Dutch model, in addition to a Flemish Railway Company
- A reduction in train ticket prices (which have recently been increased), especially for target groups such as young people, seniors or people with disabilities
- Maximum separation of soft road users from motorized traffic, including new, as wide as possible, visibly demarcated and – where possible – separate cycle and pedestrian paths
OPEN VLD - Private players in the public transport market
- Free public transport up to 16 years
- IC trains on main tracks every 10 minutes
- Variable speed limits
- Smart all over the countryhe kilometer tax that replaces all existing flat traffic taxes and is therefore not a tax increase
CD&V - Strengthening public transport: increase De Lijn’s budget by 100 million, with an additional 90 million for tailor-made transport
- Introducing a single ticket for all public transport, at a low rate
- We are eliminating the LEZ (low emission zone) where possible and ensuring a mobility mix of which the car is an integral part
- 500 million extra for safe and quality infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists
- We are introducing a driving license with points to tackle serious traffic offenders and recidivism
FORWARD - There must be a peak tax, paid by the employer
- Public transport should be free for everyone under the age of 25, and there should be a cheap ticket that you can use on the train, tram and bus. Just like a night offer for train, tram and bus
- Investments in cycling infrastructure are being doubled
- Zero tolerance for alcohol in traffic
- In built-up areas the speed limit will be 30 km/h, except where it can safely go faster. Speedpedelecs must drive on the track
- Mobile phone use can be monitored with unmanned cameras
N-VA We provide more punctual, reliable and efficient public transport. In addition to urban and regional transport, rail transport must also be demand-driven
We introduce the driving license with points. We are linking this to a revision of the fine system, where only a warning follows after a first minor violation. Fines are gradually increasing
More and more Flemish people are getting on their bikes, and the diversity of bicycles is increasing. We are therefore working to create more space for our cyclists, so that they can move safely. We use a network approach
We encourage European cooperation in the field of train traffic to achieve more and better European train connections. The traveler can travel the entire route at an attractive rate using one ticket
We are accelerating the rollout of charging stations at strategic locations, and are examining the option of dynamic and wireless charging. People in terraced houses should also have enough affordable options to charge their cars
Inspection centers “bewildered”
GOCA Flanders, the sector federation for car inspection, reacts “astonished” to the approval of the pilot project. “Objectivity, independence and impartiality are not guaranteed,” the interest group says.
GOCA Flanders says that it involves many challenges and says it has never agreed with the planned implementation modalities. “We have always warned that the core values of the inspection, objectivity, independence and impartiality, are not guaranteed.”
“Approved garages will be able to carry out both a re-inspection and a repair and will therefore be the judge and party, which enormously increases the risk of commercial conflicts of interest,” the sector federation says in a press release. “The control mechanisms put forward to combat this are largely insufficient.”
Tags: Flemish Parliament green light pilot project reinspections repairers
