WRITTEN QUESTION E-1452/99

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Harmonisation in the field of transport safety

The European Commission devotes considerable attention to transport, not least because transport involves not only covering the distance from A to B as fast and in as environmentally-friendly manner as possible, but also increasing the safety of European roads and railways.

Concerning road safety:

- does the Commission have any thoughts, or are there any legislative provisions, on the following questions?

- if so, please provide precise details of the stage reached in the discussions or of the legislative standard, and any transitional periods.

1. How many legislative standards has the EU adopted on the safety of drivers of vehicles?

2. As a result of national legislative provisions being adopted after a time-lag is it possible for European citizens to be able to drive a vehicle without a driving licence?

3. Are there standard rules in Europe on the size and appearance of vehicle registration plates?

4. Are there standard rules in Europe on turning right when traffic lights are on red?

5. Is it possible that different traffic lights mean different things in different Member States (e.g. a flashing amber light)?

6. Are there European rules on road signs and on the appearance (colours) of traffic signs?

7. Are there uniform exhaust gas standards in the Union for lorries and cars? If not, how great is the margin between the most stringent and the most generous limit value?

8. Is there a general obligation to wear a seat belt and is there a standard speed limit on European roads?

Answer given by Mme de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 1999)

1. The Community has been very active in the field of legislative standards for vehicle construction, known as type approval. To date, over 50 directives have been adopted, many of which have been

subsequently amended by additional legislation to reflect technical developments in vehicle design. Most of these can be considered to have a direct or indirect effect on the safety of drivers. A list of the directives is forwarded to the Honourable Member as well as the Secretariat of the Parliament.

In addition to type approval legislation, other European legislation that affects the safety of drivers of vehicles includes Council Regulation (EEC) 3820/85 of 20 December 1985 on the harmonization of certain social legislation relating to road transport(1) and Regulation (EEC) 3821/85 of 20 December 1985 on recording equipment in road transport(12) dealing with drivers' rest hours, Directive 91/0439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences(2), Directive 96/0096/EC of 20 December 1996 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers(3), Directive 92/0006/EC of 10 February 1992 on the installation and use of speed limitation devices for certain categories of motor vehicles in the Community(4), Directive 91/0671/EEC of 16 December 1991 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to compulsory use of safety belts in vehicles of less than 3,5 tonnes(5) and a large package of legislation in the field of transport of dangerous goods (Directive 94/0055/EC of 21 November 1994(6)).

2. Directive 91/0439/EEC on driving licences does not apply to motor vehicles with a maximum design speed of 50 kilometres an hour (km/h) or less, or with an engine of 50 cubic centimetre (cm3) or less. Agricultural or forestry vehicles are also exempt from the scope of the directive. This means that individual Member States may choose to allow people to drive such vehicles on public roads on their territory without any form of driving licence. In addition, there will exist citizens in Member States who have driving licences but who have never taken a driving test, since they acquired them prior to the introduction of driving tests in their Member States.

3. There are no standard rules for registration plates but there is a standard concerning where these plates must be fitted on the vehicle. Moreover, there is Council Regulation (EC) 2411/98 of 3 November 1998 on the recognition in intra-Community traffic of the distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered(7).

4. and 5. There is no Community legislation on the rules applying to traffic lights. The 1968 Economic commission for Europe of the United Nations (UN-ECE) convention on road signs does lay down rules on traffic lights (in Articles 23 and 24). It states that a red light signifies that a vehicle may not pass, whilst an amber flashing light means that a vehicle may pass whilst exercising caution. However, it should be noted that not all Member States are signatories to the convention, or apply it fully. The Commission has no mandate to ensure the full application of this convention by all Member States. Thus individual Member States may choose to allow traffic to turn right on red lights or have flashing amber lights if they do not apply the convention.

6. There is no Community legislation on the rules applying to traffic signs. Each Member State decides the colour of traffic signs. The UN-ECE convention on road signs does set harmonised designs for those traffic signs giving warning information to motorists. However, it does not harmonise the colour of direction signs. Again, it should be noted that not all Member States are signatories to the convention.

7. There is a large package of legislation laid down on exhaust gas standards in the Community in the vehicle type approval system by Council Directive 70/0220/EEC of 20 March 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by gases from positive-ignition engines of motor vehicles(8) as last amended by Directive 98/0077/EC(9). This series of directives lays down mandatory uniform emission standards.

Moreover, Council Directive 96/0096/EC of 20 December 1996 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers(10) requires that vehicles must have regular inspections at which the emission standards will be checked.

8. Council Directive 91/0671/EEC of 16 December 1991 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to compulsory use of safety belts in vehicles of less than 3,5 tonnes(11) makes the wearing of seat belts compulsory on front and back seats of vehicles. There is no standard speed limit on European roads.

(1) OJ L 370, 31.12.1985.

(2) OJ L 237, 24.8.1991.

(3) OJ L 46, 17.2.1997.

(4) OJ L 57, 2.3.1992.

(5) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991.

(6) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.

(7) OJ L 299, 10.11.1998.

(8) OJ L 76, 6.4.1970.

(9) OJ L 286, 23.10.1998.

(10) OJ L 46, 17.2.1997.

(11) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991.

(12) OJ L 370, 31.12.1985.