One hundred years of road safety with TÜV SÜD

Stuttgart/Munich. A milestone in road safety: exactly one hundred years ago, on 15 October 2010, a department specializing in vehicle testing was established by TÜV SÜD's historic predecessor, the Stuttgart-based steam boiler inspectorate. A lot has happened in the intervening century; roadworthiness inspection has undergone enormous changes. On 1 January, for example, TÜV SÜD will celebrate its next anniversary, 50 years of 'TÜV Stickers'! And the world keeps changing; today TÜV SÜD is one of the pioneers in ensuring the safety of electrically powered cars.



Periodic roadworthiness testing originally dates back to the industrial revolution. In 1866, after a series of accidents involving the new steam boiler technology, 21 steam-boiler owners founded a 'Steam Boiler Inspectorate' in Mannheim. Further regional associations followed, among them one in Stuttgart. The experts soon extended their inspections to other systems and installations, focusing not only on safety, but also on cost-effectiveness and availability. In the early 20th century, the technology professionals were commissioned for the first time to test vehicles and drivers – on 15 October 1910, the Stuttgart-based inspectorate documented the foundation of a department for the "testing of vehicles and their drivers", marking the beginnings of periodic roadworthiness testing in Southern Germany. "Given this, TÜV SÜD and its predecessor organization now stand for 100 years of road safety", emphasizes Horst Schneider, TÜV SÜD Member of the Board responsible for MOBILITY. As far as road transport and vehicle inspection are concerned, the century was a highly eventful one.

The 1920s: Even in the "Roaring Twenties", motor vehicles were already a part of everyday life – and, in particular, the economy.

The 1930s: By decree of the Ministry of the Economy of the German Reich, the steam inspectorates changed their names to Technischer Überwachungs-Verein (TÜV). The same year witnessed the introduction of Article 29 of the StVZO, the German regulations authorizing vehicles for road traffic use (StVZO).
Even today, this article of the StVZO still includes the provisions governing roadworthiness testing – although the regulation has naturally undergone major revisions since its beginnings.

The 1940s: After the difficult years during the war, German TÜV organizations assisted in adapting cars to enable war invalids to drive. The special technical equipment for vehicles was in high demand.
The 1950s: As an important amendment of the StVZO in 1951, the periodic inspection of cars became mandatory. The registration offices sent out 'invitations' for the inspections to vehicle owners.

The 1960s: As vehicle owners frequently tended to ignore these invitations, authorities were chronically understaffed and the number of cars was increasing (the time of the 'economic miracle'), the StVZO was amended once again in 1960. The responsibility for keeping the inspection deadlines now rested with the motorists themselves. On 1 January 1961, the TÜV Sticker was introduced as a way of managing the inspection deadlines. "The original "TÜV Sticker" has been provided by TÜV SÜD for 50 years, and will continue thus in the future", notes Horst Schneider.

The 1950s and 1960s: Rust was a car's worst enemy -- and consequently vehicle inspection also focused on corrosion. Another story from the history of roadworthiness testing involves the "kneecap appointment": In the days before lifting platforms and inspection pits, motor vehicle inspectors had to get down on their knees to inspect cars thoroughly. The introduction of the modern roller brake testers was somewhat of a revolution, permitting precise measurement of the brake force at each wheel. Before the introduction of these testers, the TÜV professionals had carried out brake testing on public roads, using decelerometers with a liquid or pendulum in the vehicle to conduct their measurements. In view of the rising volume of traffic, brake testing on public road would soon have become difficult.

The 1970s: The year 1971 saw some relaxation of the strict rules. In exceptional cases, the TÜV sticker could now also be awarded to vehicles with minor defects.
The 1980s: In 1985, exhaust emission testing became mandatory, at first only for petrol-fuelled cars, but later also extending to diesel-fuelled cars. The subject of exhaust emission testing also showed that vehicle inspection is a "mirror of societal changes". The introduction of exhaust emission testing was closely linked to the environmental protection discussions in the 1980s.

The 1990s: In 1999 a major amendment of roadworthiness testing came into effect. An important feature for TÜV SÜD clients: exceeding the date given on the TÜV sticker was no longer worthwhile. "Since those times, the date on a new TÜV sticker has depended strictly on the previous sticker's validity period", explains Horst Schneider.
The 2000s: The term "electronics testing" came to dominate debate and reality in roadworthiness testing. This term reflected the fact that electronic safety systems and advanced driver assistant systems now also had to be included in the regular car check. In accordance with the system data directive, electronics testing became mandatory for all vehicles registered for the first time after 1 April 2006.

January 2010: Roadworthiness inspection and exhaust emission testing became integrated. Both tests were now completed simultaneously, and there was only one sticker to be fastened to the rear licence plate. In modern vehicles, safety-related data and information about exhaust emission testing were now read electronically – via the OBD (on-board diagnosis) interface.

The 2000s and 2010s: The theme of electrically-powered vehicles has now come to dominate the mobility sector. TÜV SÜD is once again playing a pioneering role. Its commitment ranges from roadworthiness testing of electrically-powered vehicles to homologation and battery safety, the development of re-charging stations and training repair technicians in the safe handling of high-voltage technology. "For the benefits of all road users, we advocate standardized requirements and regulations for electrical drive systems – safe mobility is our motto, now and in the future" says TÜV SÜD Member of the Board Schneider.

And on the subject of pioneering achievements, anniversaries are now coming thick and fast in the field of vehicles and roadworthiness testing. The first will be 100 years of roadworthiness testing on 15 October 2010, followed by the 50th anniversary of TÜV stickers on 1 January 2011. And in 2011 we can also celebrate the 125th anniversary of the automobile. Designed by Carl Benz, the first petrol-fuelled car with internal combustion engine and electric ignition drove through Mannheim in 1886.