EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/111

(2004/C 78 E/0113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2422/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(21 July 2003)

Subject: In-car LCD screens

In-car dashboard computer screens are all the rage in Belgium and the Netherlands. For young people, in particular, it is considered cool to install an in-car LCD screen on which to play computer games or DVDs. Such screens are installed in luxury cars in order to guide drivers to their destination as rapidly as possible, and the DVD function cannot operate while the car is being driven. However, the models being installed in car centres are not always equipped with such cut-out devices. In the Netherlands, LCD screens which the driver may watch whilst driving are prohibited because they are too dangerous. That is not yet the case in Belgium.

Is the European Commission aware of the increasing use of LCD screens in cars for entertainment purposes?

What is the Commission's view of this phenomenon? Does it regard it as a dangerous trend?

What measures is the Commission taking in order to ensure that drivers in cars equipped with LCD screens will drive safely? Is it considering a ban on dashboard LCDs which can be used for playing computer games and watching DVDs?

Joint answer to

Written Questions E-2408/03 and E-2422/03

given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(29 September 2003)

The Commission's attention is drawn to the fact that an increasing number of drivers are making use of LCD screens for their own personal entertainment while driving. Such screens were initially intended either for the provision of traffic information or for navigation or for the entertainment of passengers. Since this situation could lead to dangerous driving practices, Dutch legislation has formally prohibited the installation of LCD screens intended for drivers. The question therefore arises as to whether or not the problem should be considered at EU level.

Since 1990 the EU has been carrying out studies to assess the development of in-vehicle telematics devices and the fact that they may be used by the driver while driving. The question of whether these tools should be used while driving has been considered from various points of view and examined by several Directorates-General (DGs) of the Commission (DG Energy and Transport, DG Enterprise, DG Research and DG Information Society).

The Commission is aware of the potential danger in using this new equipment which could distract the driver while driving. It therefore published a Recommendation on 21 December 1999 on safe and efficient in-vehicle information and communication systems: A European statement of principles on human machine interface (1).

Its recommendations include:

— (principle 4) that the system should be designed so as not to distract or visually entertain the driver;

— (principle 8) that visual information not related to driving that is likely to distract the driver significantly (e.g. TV, video and automatically scrolling images and text) should be disabled or should only be presented in such a way that the driver cannot see it while the vehicle is in motion.

Since the publication of this Recommendation, the eSafety initiative — a joint venture between European car manufacturers and the Commission — has re-opened the debate with its plan to establish a safety guide for the use of in-vehicle systems while driving.

It should be remembered that the manufacture of motor vehicles is subject to the Community type-approval system, established under Article 95 of the EC Treaty, and that the Commission must be notified of all unilateral draft initiatives by Member States. Furthermore, since the EU has signed up to international agreements, such as those concluded under the auspices of the United Nations, it is also necessary to examine the impact of all draft initiatives at international level.

(1) Notified under document number C (1999) 4786 and published in the Official Journal (OJ L 19, 25.1.2000).