28 new inspection stations have been opened since the market for vehicle inspections was deregulated last year. But otherwise there have been no great changes, according to an initial review carried out by the Swedish Transport Agency.
Inspection technicians must be certified. Following the re-regulation just over a year ago, all inspection technicians must be certified by a company accredited by Swedac. Photo: Jerker Andersson
- We assess that the operation as a whole works well in terms of quality, prices and availability, says Heléene Jarefors, Unit Manager at the Swedish Transport Agency’s Road and Railway Department.
On 1 July last year, the monopoly of Bilprovningen ended and private companies became free to establish themselves on the market. However, the market is not totally deregulated – for example, in its regulations, the Transport Agency sets out requirements for the equipment and the methods the inspection stations shall use, and the skills and training the staff shall have.
The companies must also be assessed as to skills and accredited by Swedac on the basis of the Transport Agency’s regulations, the Vehicles Act and the accreditation standard SS-EN ISO/IEC 17020. Seven companies have so far become accredited by Swedac and together have 222 stations (on 3 October) compared to the 194 that existed before the deregulation.
- The usual way is for the companies to start with one station and thereafter gradually increase the station network. Nearly all companies plan to open more stations, and some further actors may also establish themselves on the market, explains Tomas Holm, Manager of Swedac’s Vehicle Division.
Both Swedac’s and the Transport Agency’s authority mandates include exercising supervision – in the case of the Transport Agency to supervise the entire market, and in Swedac’s case the inspection companies.
- Of course there is a risk of overlap. But we maintain a continuous discussion between us in order to coordinate the supervision as far as possible and avoid double work, says Tomas Holm.
At Swedac’s Vehicle Unit, around ten technical administrative employees work with accreditation of companies within vehicle inspection and are responsible for supervision. The Transport Agency has formed a special unit within the Road and Railway Department with responsibility for market monitoring and market supervision within the area.
Have visited 35 stations
The five employees at the unit have so far visited around 35 stations in order to make a first inspection of their operation.
- The work is still in the start-up phase. But it is still our impression that the inspection companies are managing well, summarises Heléene Jarefors, who is managing the new unit.
Five parameters in particular form the basis for the Transport Agency’s supervision: road safety, environment, price development, technical development and availability.
- The purpose of vehicle inspection is to increase road safety and to reduce enviromental impact. Therefore it is important to check that the inspection technicians do not reduce the quality in their inspections, says Heléene Jarefors.
A model for following up the development of price and technology and availability is under development. This will probably entail the inspection companies becoming obliged to report certain information to the Transport Agency on a continuous basis.
- We have a mandate to prescribe the information we need from the inspection bodies, but will use it with care. It is really important that the system does not become too bureaucratic and difficult to work for the inspection companies, explains Heléene Jarefors.
The Transport Agency therefore does not yet have an exact picture of how the development of price and technology and also availability has been affected by the deregulation. However, the general impression is still that availability is satisfactory and that fees have remained more or less unchanged.
- Many vehicle owners have contacted us to complain about long queueing times. But it is too early to determine whether this is because of reduced availability. The problems existed before as well, but as a monopoly company, Bilprovningen had greater opportunities to direct coverage and manning, declares Heléene Jarefors.
For more information, please contact:
Tomas Holm, Vehicle Division Manager
Updated/Reviewed: 2011-11-17 15:54
+ 46 33 17 77 00
