WRITTEN QUESTION E-1221/02 by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission. The safety of lorry drivers with left-hand drive cabs on roads in the United Kingdom.
Date: 2002-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, commercial vehicle, drivers, transport accident

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/43

In the context of the solution referred to in the previous paragraph, the Commission was given a
6.
mandate to find a solution with Korea by 30 September 2002. Meetings with Korea in August and
September 2002 ended in failure, and so the Council, at its meeting on 30 September 2002, took note, on
the basis of a statement by the Commission representative, of the negative outcome of the negotiations
between the Commission and the Korean authorities and of the measures to be taken in this area.

(1) OJ L 172, 2.7.2002, p. 1 et seq.

(2003/C 92 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1221/02

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(29 April 2002)

Subject: The safety of lorry drivers with left-hand drive cabs on roads in the United Kingdom

Could the Commission give details as to the number of accidents caused by non-UK lorries on United
Kingdom roads that cause accidents due to the fact that drivers are on the left-hand side of the cab? Could
the Commission also give details of the number of accidents caused by UK drivers on the continent due to
their right-hand drive cabs? Can the Commission state what measures are being taken to ensure that lorry
drivers are equipped to cover their ‘blind side’ when travelling on roads abroad, where they find themselves
in this position?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2002)

The Commission is not in a position to give details as to the number of accidents caused by non-British
lorries on United Kingdom roads due to the fact that drivers are on the left-hand side of the cabin, nor can
it give details as to the equivalent number of accidents on the continent.

The Community data base on road accidents is built on administrative police reports which give factual
information without
in-depth
investigations that are carried out under the responsibility of judicial authorities in the Member States.

indicating the causes of accidents. Determining the causes needs

With regard to the measures taken by the Commission, the Honourable Member is kindly requested to
refer to the answer to the written question E-0852/02 by Mr Wiersma (1) about blind spot mirrors. The
proposed amendments to the rear view mirrors directive will in general improve the field of vision for
truck drivers.

(1) OJ C 277 E, 14.11.2002, p. 96.

(2003/C 92 E/046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1253/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 May 2002)

Subject: Rules governing the provision of state aids with particular reference to Mecklenburger Metallguss

A British company Stone Manganese Maríne, a world leader in its field, has made propellers for the Queen
Mary, the Queen Elizabeth, the QE2 and many of the Royal Navy’s best-known aircraft-carriers and
battleships. It is now about to lay-off most of its employees because it has found that its tenders are
constantly being undercut by the German company Mecklenburger Metallguss, which has been
transformed over the last three years, together with the help of direct subsidies that have been approved
by the Commission, from a struggling relic of East-German Communism to the world’s largest marine
propeller manufacturer in the world.

Under certain circumstances, subsidies are permitted under the rules governing state aid. Commissioner
Monti has also gained an impressive reputation for acting ‘without fear or favour’ regarding the application
of state aids. Nevertheless, does the Commission believe that it is appropriate to permit subsidies which
will allow an otherwise struggling firm to wipe-out its major competitors by undercutting their tenders by