Road Transport

EU Parliament ENVI/IMCO/TRAN Committees Set Amendment Deadline on Motor Vehicle Technical Requirements Simplification Proposal

In May 2026, the European Parliament’s environment, internal market and transport committees scheduled a 3 June joint meeting on the Commission’s automotive simplification proposal COM(2025) 993 and set 9 June 2026 as the deadline for tabling amendments. The file could materially reshape EU rules on vehicle testing, Euro 7 emissions, safety equipment and EV-grid interoperability, so automotive manufacturers and fleet operators should monitor committee amendments closely to anticipate future type-approval, design and data obligations.

25 May 2026, 18:24europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Official Journal Publishes UN Regulation No 94 Frontal Collision Protection Consolidated Text [2026/1075]

The EU Official Journal has published the consolidated text of UN Regulation No 94 on frontal collision protection for passenger cars and light vans, incorporating Supplement 1 to the 05 series of amendments that entered into force on 12 June 2025. This confirms the crash-test, occupant-injury and electric/hydrogen safety performance criteria that manufacturers must satisfy for future UN R94 type-approvals, with previous-series approvals no longer accepted for new approvals from 1 September 2027, and should feed directly into vehicle design, homologation and programme timing decisions.

25 May 2026, 15:33eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Delaware HB 439 Proposes Truth In E-Bike Marketing Rules For Electric Mopeds And Motorcycles

Delaware has introduced HB 439 (Truth in E-Bike Marketing Act) to tighten definitions and impose strict advertising and disclosure requirements on the sale and rental of electric mopeds and motorcycles. If enacted, dealers and online sellers would need to overhaul labelling, marketing and point-of-sale documentation for these vehicles while moped use would be further restricted on bike lanes and pathways, reducing liability and crash-risk ambiguity.

24 May 2026, 20:50legis.delaware.govUnited States

US House Committee Highlights Automotive Safety And Chinese Vehicle Ban In Surface Transportation Reauthorization Package

In May 2026, the US House Energy and Commerce Committee chair outlined a surface transportation reauthorization package that would modernise automotive safety rules, strengthen NHTSA’s tools, and include a bipartisan ban on Chinese vehicles. If advanced, this package could tighten tyre and flammability standards and reshape US market access and compliance planning for automakers, suppliers, and vehicle importers.

23 May 2026, 19:25republicans-energycommerce.house.govUnited States

EU Parliament Adopts Negotiating Position On Roadworthiness Tests And Roadside Inspections

In May 2026 the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position on the EU roadworthiness package and authorised talks with the Council on revised rules for periodic vehicle checks and roadside inspections. The mandate keeps existing inspection intervals but signals tighter controls on odometer fraud, advanced safety systems and exhaust emissions, so vehicle makers, garages and fleet operators should anticipate more demanding future inspection and data-sharing obligations even though no new legal duties apply yet.

23 May 2026, 09:11europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

EEA Joint Committee Decision 56/2026 Adds HDV CO2 Emissions Decision 2025/1786 to Annex XX of the EEA Agreement

EEA Joint Committee Decision 56/2026, published in May 2026, incorporates the EU’s 2023 list of CO2 emissions values and credits for new heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers into Annex XX (Environment) of the EEA Agreement. This aligns Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway with the EU heavy-duty vehicle CO2 performance regime, giving truck OEMs and large fleet operators a consistent set of emissions benchmarks for compliance monitoring and longer-term decarbonisation planning across the wider European market.

23 May 2026, 08:47eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Economic AreaEuropean Union

Connecticut Public Act 26-120: Distracted Driving in Highway Work Zones Classified as Reckless Driving

Connecticut has enacted Public Act 26-120 (SB 484), effective 1 October 2026, which makes any conduct that violates the state’s distracted-driving statute a reckless driving offence when committed in a highway work zone. For employers and contractors with vehicle fleets in Connecticut, this materially increases legal exposure around driver behaviour in work zones and warrants tightening policies, training, and monitoring before the effective date.

22 May 2026, 18:56cga.ct.govUnited States

Delaware SB 233 on Vehicle Snow and Ice Removal Reported Out of House Committee

Delaware lawmakers are advancing SB 233, a bill that would require drivers to remove accumulated ice and snow from vehicles and create civil penalties when uncleared debris causes damage or injury. If enacted, this will introduce new winter-weather operating expectations for fleets and other vehicle operators in Delaware, increasing the need for clearance procedures, driver training, and monitoring of incident liability.

21 May 2026, 06:34legis.delaware.govUnited States

EU Council: Estonia Comments on Clean Corporate Vehicles Proposal

In January 2026 Estonia submitted a Council working-document setting out strong reservations about the EU Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation proposal, warning that mandatory ZLEV fleet targets could disproportionately impact leasing markets, SMEs and private citizens. The intervention signals political headwinds and practical implementation risks around infrastructure, equity and fiscal flexibility that companies with large vehicle fleets should monitor as negotiations on the file continue.

20 May 2026, 17:51eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

New Jersey Assembly Bill A5130 (Vehicle Choice Protection Act) Would Limit State Restrictions on New Internal Combustion Vehicles

New Jersey Assembly Bill A5130 (Vehicle Choice Protection Act) for the 2026–2027 session would bar State agencies from adopting rules that restrict the sale, registration or use of new internal combustion vehicles. If passed, it would shift future ICE vehicle restrictions from agency rulemaking to statute, signalling political resistance to ICE phase-outs and narrowing near-term regulatory risk for internal combustion fleets and vehicle suppliers in the State.

20 May 2026, 09:57njleg.state.nj.usUnited States

EU Council Working Party on Land Transport Meeting on Vehicle Dimensions, Rail Dangerous Goods and Clean Corporate Vehicles

In March 2026, the EU Council’s Working Party on Land Transport met to review legislative files on road vehicle dimensions, rail dangerous goods, road traffic safety and a proposed clean corporate vehicles regulation. These agenda items signal forthcoming changes to vehicle dimension rules, rail dangerous goods requirements and corporate fleet decarbonisation obligations that transport operators, automotive manufacturers and chemicals shippers should monitor as negotiations progress.

20 May 2026, 06:48data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Working Document WK 1565/2026 ADD 15 – Poland's Comments on the Proposal for a Regulation on Clean Corporate Vehicles

In February 2026 Poland submitted detailed comments on the EU Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation proposal, warning that current drafting on reporting, scope and financial support could create legal uncertainty and unintended constraints for specialised fleets and leasing markets. If the final law does not clarify what counts as financial support and exempt essential public and social mobility schemes, companies and public authorities may face tighter limits on fleet renewal, access to finance and the pace of decarbonisation.

20 May 2026, 06:21data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Wisconsin DNR Announces New ATV/UTV Safety Regulations And Training Requirements

In May 2026, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced updated ATV/UTV safety requirements, including mandatory UTV seatbelts, tighter towing limits, window tint restrictions and higher penalties for intentional damage. Businesses and land managers that rely on ATVs and UTVs in Wisconsin should review rider training policies and equipment configurations now so their operations and customers comply with the strengthened rules before peak riding season.

18 May 2026, 15:08dnr.wisconsin.govUnited States

Netherlands Outlines 2030 Access Rules in Seventh Zero-Emission Zone Monitoring Letter

In May 2026 the Dutch State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management issued the seventh bi-monthly monitoring letter on zero-emission urban logistics zones, confirming very high compliance, extensive use of exemptions, and a stable roll-out across participating municipalities. The letter also sets out how access and exemption rules will evolve from 2030, extending some private-use derogations while phasing out others, which will shape fleet investment decisions and route planning for freight operators serving Dutch city centres.

18 May 2026, 13:27zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

China Publishes GB/T 47565-2026 — Agricultural Trailer And Tractor Mechanical Coupling Components

China has issued national recommended standard GB/T 47565-2026 on mechanical coupling components for agricultural trailers and tractors, with application from 1 November 2026. This will shape future design, testing and sourcing expectations for agricultural vehicles and coupling equipment placed on the Chinese market, so companies should plan alignment ahead of implementation.

16 May 2026, 14:54openstd.samr.gov.cnChina

California Assembly Appropriations Committee Approves AB 2788 Transportation Omnibus Bill

In May 2026, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced AB 2788, a transportation omnibus bill that would align state law more explicitly with federal hazardous materials regulations and update pilotage and automated traffic enforcement rules. If enacted, the bill would expand which carriers and shippers are clearly subject to federal hazardous materials standards under state law, increasing compliance and enforcement risk for road transport and port operations in California.

15 May 2026, 17:44leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

US EPA Proposes Two-Year Delay of Tier 4 Vehicle Criteria Pollutant Standards Until Model Year 2029

In May 2026, the US Environmental Protection Agency proposed a Part 1 rule to delay implementation of its Tier 4 criteria pollutant standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles from model year 2027 to 2029, keeping existing Tier 3 controls in place for 2027–2028. If adopted, this would ease near-term emissions compliance pressure and capital spending for US vehicle manufacturers and importers, but firms should plan for a later Part 2 review that could further revise Tier 4 stringency, timing, and testing requirements.

15 May 2026, 15:26epa.govUnited States

Spain Submits Comments on EU Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation Proposal

Spain has submitted formal comments on the EU’s proposed Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation, backing the measure but pressing for stricter treatment of plug-in hybrids, zero-tailpipe-emission-only public support, and a 2032 phase-out of special targets for low-emission vehicles. This signals a push within Council to align fleet obligations and subsidy schemes more tightly with real-world CO2 performance, shaping how corporate fleets and vehicle manufacturers will need to plan decarbonisation and investment over the next decade.

15 May 2026, 12:14data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

Maryland Exempts School Bus Driver's Seat From Upholstery Fire Block Test

Maryland has enacted SB968 (Chapter 524), effective 1 July 2026, to exempt the driver’s seat of a school bus from the state’s seat upholstery fire-block test requirement while retaining the standard for all passenger seats. This change alters design and procurement obligations for school bus manufacturers and school districts in Maryland, allowing more flexibility for driver seats but preserving stringent fire safety expectations for the rest of the bus interior.

14 May 2026, 18:57mgaleg.maryland.govUnited States

Colorado Senate Passes HB26-1286 Requiring Human Operator for Automated Commercial Vehicles

Colorado’s 2026 bill HB26-1286 has passed both chambers and would require a commercial driver to be physically present in automated driving system-operated commercial vehicles, with specified penalties and a time-limited trial to 2031. This creates significant operational and planning implications for fleets, logistics operators, and ADS technology providers using commercial vehicles in Colorado, who must prepare for human-in-the-loop requirements and a scheduled safety review before any longer-term framework is set.

14 May 2026, 12:36leg.colorado.govUnited States