WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2481/97 by Ludivina GARCÍA ARIAS to the Commission. Safety of stations and railway-crossings in built-up areas
Date: 1997-07-16
Institutions: European Parliament, GARCIA ARIAS
Subjects: accident prevention, child, public awareness campaign, rail network, rail transport, safety device, transport accident

C 82/90

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 3. 98

The Commission services will if necessary consider further steps, in the light of the reports from the Member
States  in  order  to  protect  consumer  safety  and  to  ensure  the  free  movement  of  safe  goods,  including  the
possibility to launch the procedure foreseen in articles 9-11 of the general product safety directive(cid:146).

Furthermore, the Commission approved on 14 May 1997 a communication and a proposal for a decision of the
Parliament  and  the  Council  adopting  a  programme  on  injury  prevention  in  the  context  of  the  framework  for
action in the field of public health (2). Prevention of accidents to children is one of the fields of activity in this
programme.

(1)  OJ L 228, 11.8.1992.
(2)  COM(97) 178.

(98/C 82/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2481/97

by Ludivina Garc(cid:14)·a Arias (PSE) to the Commission

(16 July 1997)

Subject: Safety of stations and railway-crossings in built-up areas

A large number of accidents caused by trains in built-up areas are escaping public attention. Many of the victims
are  children  and  adolescents  who  ignore  warning  notices  and  take  short  cuts  rather  than  using  pedestrian
footbridges  and  underpasses  to  cross  sections  of  the  track  which  have  no  protective  barriers  or  fences,  even
though railway companies are under an obligation to ensure safety in the majority of Member States.

Bearing in mind Article 75(c) of the Treaty on European Union (measures to improve transport safety), can the
Commission say what type of action has been taken to prevent accidents caused by the lack of safety measures
along railways in built-up areas?

In view of the vast stretches of track which are generally unprotected, what Community provisions in relation to
the rail sector might make it possible to improve the safety of passengers and the public as a whole (Article
75(c))?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 1997)

Measures to restrict unauthorised access to railway tracks are entirely within the legal responsibility of different
bodies in the different Member States.

Furthermore, as the Honourable Member herself notes, many tragic accidents occur when people wilfully ignore
warning signs and notices.

Given this, the Commission would encourage Member States to publicise the dangers of crossing railway tracks
by unauthorised means and there is clearly a special need to reinforce the education of children about the dangers
of playing near railways. The Commission does not, however, currently have the legal authority to propose any
legislation on the matter.

(98/C 82/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2484/97

by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 July 1997)

Subject: Tobacco tax on medicinal herbal cigarettes

In  reply  to  my  question  E-0480/97 (1)  the  Commission  stated  on  4  April  1997  that  it  would  inquire  into  the
situation concerning a medicinal herbal cigarette of the Planterette Monte Verdo brand in the light of different
rates of excise duty in the Member States.