WRITTEN QUESTION E-0690/03 by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Accident at the bridge over the river Aliakmona.
Date: 2003-03-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European driving licence, Greece, bus, drafting of EU law, drivers, road safety, roadworthiness tests, transport accident, vehicle parts, vocational training

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/121

In order to prevent the introduction into the Community of any non-European fruit fly, including the two
above-mentioned harmful organisms, the Community plant health regime lays down provisions by virtue
of Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the
Community of organisms harmful
their spread within the
Community (1). The above-mentioned Directive defines procedures for imports, involving both the country
of origin and the Member States in taking appropriate measures.

to plants or plant products and against

From information received from Member States covering at least the last seven years, it appears that no
interception of any fruit fly,
including Anastrepha ludens and Bactrocera (Dacus) dorsalis, has been
reported on citrus fruits originating in the United States. Therefore, the Commission considers that the
current provisions for import of citrus fruits originating in the United States are adequate and need not be
modified at this stage.

(1) OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2003/22/EC of 24 March 2003, OJ L 78,

25.3.2003.

(2003/C 268 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0690/03

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Accident at the bridge over the river Aliakmona

(7 March 2003)

A fatal accident occurred at the bridge over the river Aliakmona in Greece in which 15 persons died.
Regardless of the causes of the accident, it is reported that, under a law of the Ministry of Transport and
Communications, KTEL buses have to be withdrawn from circulation after 23 years of service at the very
latest. However, 75 % of the 4 100 or so KTEL buses operating throughout Greece are over 15 years old
and no further training is provided for KTEL drivers to help them cope with difficult weather conditions or
unforeseen circumstances.

Bearing in mind the above, will the Commission say:

1.

Is the above Greek law in line with Community legislation?

2. Does uniform legislation exist concerning public transport in the European Union and, if so, is Greek

legislation in line with this legislation?

3. What are the existing criteria regarding drivers of public transport in Greece and what training do
they receive? What should these criteria and training consist of? What does the Commission intend to
do about this?

4.

Is all public transport fitted with safety belts and, if so, is compliance strictly monitored?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2003)

There are no age related limits in Community law concerning vehicles in circulation. However, coaches
and other heavy commercial vehicles are subject to and must pass annual roadworthiness inspections as
required by Council Directive 96/96/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 (1).

Community legislation on driving times and rest periods (Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85) (2) applies to
vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, which by virtue of their construction and equipment are
suitable for carrying more than nine persons. Those vehicles used for journeys of less than 50 kilometres

C 268 E/122

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

(km) (essentially local or urban public transport) are exempted. The Regulation is directly applicable in
Member States and therefore should there be any discrepancy with Member States implementing
legislation, its measures take precedence.

Two fields of Community legislation have to be taken into account: driver licensing and training of
professional drivers. With regard to driver licensing, Annex II of Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July
1991 on driving licenses (3) lays down the minimum requirements for theory and practical tests which are
conditions for issuing a driving licence. This Annex has been completely reviewed by Commission
Directive 2000/56/EC of 14 September 2000 amending Directive 91/439/EEC (4), raising considerably
these minimum requirements. This Directive includes very detailed requirements concerning the contents
of both tests as well as their assessment and will have to be transposed into national legislation by the
Member States on 30 September 2003.

With regard to the training of professional drivers, Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 allows drivers to carry
passengers within a 50 km radius from the place where the vehicle is normally based without any
professional training. Even those drivers who carry passengers beyond a 50 km radius will in many cases
not receive any professional competence training as the above mentioned Regulation allows them simply
to have experience in transport of goods or on small passenger carrying vehicles for which training is not
compulsory.

In order to overcome this flagrant lack of training of professional drivers, the Commission submitted, on
2 February 2001, to the Parliament and to the Council a proposal for a Directive on the training of
professional drivers for the carriage of goods or passengers by road (5). The Commission proposed to make
compulsory initial and continuous training for all professional drivers. This proposal contains a detailed
syllabus of subjects that should be covered, including the ability to ensure passenger comfort and safety,
vehicle loading and assessing emergency situations. The Commission is looking forward to a swift
adoption by Parliament and Council later this year.

Council Directives 77/541/EEC of 28 June 1977 (6), 76/115/EEC of 18 December 1975 (7) and 74/408/EEC
of 22 July 1974 (8) lay down European standards for safety belts, their anchorages and compatible seats for
all categories of vehicles. These Directives are optional with respect to vehicles designed and constructed
for the carriage of goods and for the carriage of more than eight passengers (driver not included). That
means that Member States may choose to oblige new vehicles registered on their territory to comply with
the Directives. However,
it should be underlined that many coach and minibus operators are already
opting to fit safety belts on new coaches.

In the framework of its Road Safety Action Plan, the Commission is considering the obligation to install
safety belts in all commercial vehicles, in coaches more specifically. Its services are preparing an amending
Directive to Directive 77/541/EEC with a view to imposing the fitting of safety belts in new commercial
vehicle types as from 1 January 2004. However, freedom will be given to Member States to require fitting
of safety belts with respect to city buses intended for public transport.

Furthermore, the Commission has just gained approval for an adaptation to the seat belt wearing Directive
(Council Directive 91/671/EC of 16 December 1991) (9) which requires all occupants of whatever motor
vehicle to wear the seat belts provided, and that included coaches. The Directive is due to come into force
in 2006.

(1) OJ L 46, 17.2.1997.
(2) Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 of 20 December 1985 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation

relating to road transport, OJ L 370, 31.12.1985.

(3) OJ L 237, 24.8.1991.
(4) OJ L 237, 21.9.2000.
(5) OJ C 154 E, 29.5.2001.
(6) OJ L 220, 29.8.1977.
(7) OJ L 24, 30.1.1976.
(8) OJ L 221, 12.8.1974.
(9) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991.