WRITTEN QUESTION E-3171/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. St Gotthard accident.
Date: 2001-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: combined transport, common transport policy, road safety, traffic control, transport accident, tunnel

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/65

follow the decentralised implementation model provided for in the
The amended Agreement must
framework convention signed by the Commission and the Colombian Government in December 2000.
The project will be managed directly by the recipient and European technical assistance will be made
available for targeted measures.

The Delegation has ongoing contact with the Colombian authorities, from which it has not as yet received
any proposal.

(2002/C 160 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3171/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(19 November 2001)

Subject: St Gotthard accident

in the St Gotthard tunnel once again dramatically raises the issue of safety
The tragic accident
arrangements in tunnels. A system of traffic lights regulates the traffic * estimated at more than 18 700
vehicles, 21 % of which are lorries * as soon as an emergency occurs, an antenna enables drivers to
continue listening to their car radio, four fire-fighters, with two vehicles which, however, are not equipped
to deal with chemical accidents, are permanently on duty.

The problem of intra-Community road transport has been aggravated by the closure of the St Gotthard
tunnel, the fact that the Mont Blanc is out of service, the traffic restrictions in the Brenner Pass and the
congestion in the Fréjus tunnel, where traffic has increased to some 8 000 vehicles a day.

In view of the lack of any European legislation setting out the necessary safety standards to be respected
before tunnels become operational, will the Commission look into legislation to set out the safety systems
and services required to guarantee the proper functioning of such facilities?

Will the Commission draw up a directive to make the introduction of dual lanes in existing and new
tunnels compulsory.

Will the Commission take measures to promote the development of a combined road-rail system?

Will the Commission ensure that more stringent checks are made on public holidays with regard to
drivers’ driving and rest periods?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2002)

As announced in the White Paper on European transport policy for 2010 (1) the Commission will propose,
at the start of the year 2002, a new legislation, which will guarantee a high level of safety for road users in
tunnels located on the trans-European network. The proposal will cover various safety issues, e.g. tunnel
operation, safety equipment, users information and organisation of rescues. Also, Council Directive 89/
106/EC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of
the Member States relating to construction products (2) lays down the properties of construction products
and materials to be used in tunnels, given the need to guarantee a high level of safety for road users. The
harmonised technical specifications included in the relevant European standards define classes and levels,
which allow Member States to opt
for the appropriate level of safety when specifying permitted
construction materials for such tunnels.

C 160 E/66

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

The White Paper devotes a whole chapter to the Commission’s aim of ‘Linking up the modes of transport’
and to promote intermodality. Rail-road transport is one of the key areas.

Indeed, certain White Paper proposals address the issue of how to transfer road traffic from road to more
environmentally friendly modes, namely the following:

* Framework rules for better reflecting costs of using the transport infrastructure for all modes. This
would, amongst others, allow financing of major railway investments in sensitive zones like the Alps
by road charges (cross-financing).

* The second railway package of measures

to be brought out

in early 2002 will

focus on

interoperability concerns, safety, and opening up the market.

* The Marco Polo programme will seek to promote intermodality generally, and will assist intermodal

services in starting up.

* Certain maritime links, in particular those which allow current road traffic to avoid the bottlenecks

should become part of the Trans-European network.

* An effort will be made to standardise containers and swap bodies.

As regards enforcement of the rules on driving times and rest periods, the Commission is keenly aware
that both enforcement and sanctions are primarily a matter for the Member States. However, it intends to
revise the current Directive 88/599/EEC of 23 November 1988 on standard checking procedures for the
implementation of Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 on the harmonization of certain social legislation relating
to road transport and Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport (3). The aim
is to propose a higher minimum level of checks both at the roadside and on the premises of road
transport undertakings as well as to harmonise checking procedures and sanctions. Moreover the
Commission is pushing ahead with the introduction of the digital tachograph which will allow secure
recording and storage of data on driving times and rest periods and enable the competent authorities in
Member States to check a greater number of vehicles more swiftly.

(1) COM(2001) 370 final.
(2) OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.
(3) OJ L 325, 29.11.1988.

(2002/C 160 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3172/01

by Maria Sanders-ten Holte (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 November 2001)

Subject: Dangers to children travelling as passengers on motorbikes

In the Netherlands, there are laws about transporting children in motor vehicles on the public highway.
On mopeds and bicycles proper child-seats are required, yet if children ride pillion on motorbikes, they are
only required to wear helmets.

In practice, this means that some motor-cyclists use child-seats intended for bicycles or mopeds, some
strap the child to themselves and others take no precautions at all. This leads to very dangerous situations,
children generally being less well protected than motor-cyclists are themselves.

As far as I know, no European legislation yet exists on this subject.