WRITTEN QUESTION E-3370/02

by Jan Dhaene (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(27 November 2002)

Subject: Automatic rear fog flashlight (ARFF) equipment for vehicles

Each year, many die in rear-end collisions on Europe's roads as result of fog. Failure to adjust speed is a significant factor in such accidents, of course, but vehicle rear-light configurations also play a significant role. Laws in Europe on the use of rear fog lights are highly diverse, too, nor are they harmonised.

The ARFF system can improve rear-light configurations without installing additional lamps: when a vehicle brakes normally, the rear fog light, if it is switched on, will flash for eight seconds. An emergency stop alarm system can be added, which, when a vehicle brakes sharply, will make the rear fog light flash for eight seconds, too, even if it is not switched on. DaimlerChrysler

has already carried out research into the system; it has also been tested and presented for DG TREN (High-Level Group on Road Safety) (on 23 November 1999). The aim is, at all times, to alert other drivers to a dangerous situation more quickly.

1. Does the Commission have figures on the number of casualties (fatalities and injuries) resulting from accidents in fog, vehicle pile-ups and rear-end collisions in the EU Member States and candidate countries?

2. Is the Commission planning to harmonise legislation on the use of fog lights in the EU Member States?

3. What measures are planned by the Commission to adapt rear-light configurations for motor vehicles in order to increase road safety?

4. Is the Commission considering making systems such as ARFF, which can increase safety for motorised road users, mandatory?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2003)

The Commission has a road accident database (CARE) which contains data supplied by the Member States, and includes fields relating to weather conditions, and accident type. However, in order to determine the number of casualties relating to fog, pile-ups and rear-end collision, as requested, a specific analysis of the database will be required. Such an analysis will be conducted, and the results will be sent directly to the Honourable Member once it is available.

However, the detailed information relating to weather conditions and accident type is not available for all Member States. Moreover, until now, no data from candidate countries is available in the CARE data base.

As regards the harmonisation of the legislation concerning the use of fog lamps in the Community, the Commission has no plans to bring forward any proposals, as this is an area that is currently subject to subsidiarity, and hence remains within the competence of the Member States.

An expert working group of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, in which the Commission is represented, is currently discussing proposals to amend the requirements for stop lamps to indicate emergency braking. The Automatic Rear Fog Flashlight (ARFF) is one of a number of ideas that were put forward to this group a number of years ago. However, at that time there was very little support for such systems. Recently, though, attitudes have changed and such systems are now being considered in some detail. In their discussions, the group is considering issues such as the appearance of the signal (e.g. increased intensity or area of illumination, flashing, colour, etc.), the circumstances under which the device should operate (e.g. level of deceleration), and the effect that they may have within a mixed vehicle fleet, especially on non-equipped vehicles. The Commission is following these discussions with interest and will re-consider its position on this matter once the expert group has concluded their discussions.