WRITTEN QUESTION P-1410/03 by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission. Bull bars.
Date: 2003-04-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, market approval, motor vehicle, motor vehicle industry, pedestrian, proposal (EU), road safety, spare part, testing, vehicle parts

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/139

current standards are too infrequent. Problems also arise with pitch, which is used to make minor repairs
to road surfaces. However, in rainy conditions, pitch becomes very slippery. Motorcycles skid very easily
on such surfaces, and the braking distance becomes longer. In addition, the material used is not long-
lasting. There are, nevertheless, road repair products which are safer and which last longer.

Is the Commission aware of these problems?

What measures is the Commission taking to prevent slippery road surfaces and road markings?

Does the Commission have any information about alternatives to conventional paints used for road
markings, and what is its opinion thereof?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(27 May 2003)

The Commission is very concerned about the dangerous condition of certain stretches of road and skid
resistance is an important determinant for the level of safety of a road. However, it is to be recalled that
the maintenance of roads including the proper use of road markings and pavements is the competence of
Member States.

Upon mandate of the Commission, CEN (1) has adopted a standard on materials for road markings that
provide a good grip even when the road is wet (norm EN 1423:1997 (cid:1) Road marking materials drop on
materials (cid:1) Glass beads and anti-skid aggregates and mixtures of them). As to road bound pavements
CEN/TC 227 is about to prepare a standard on products, which will be subject to CE marking on the basis
of the Construction Products Directive (Council Directive 89/106/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the
approximation of
the Member States relating to
construction products (2)) once the standard is adopted. The quality classes defined in these norms allow
road authorities to procure much better performing materials than paint without such additives.

laws, regulations and administrative provisions of

Once such markings and pavements are in place, their skid resistance needs to be controlled. At this point
in time, each Member State uses one or two in a total of twelve different models of measuring devices for
skid resistance. In an attempt to create safety conditions comparable between the different Member States,
CEN group TC 227 WG 5 is developing a draft standard defining a uniform procedure to determine skid
resistance from a dynamic measurement.

The Commission supports these activities though the research projects Format (maintenance of road
pavements) and Silvia (low noise pavements), both of which were launched in 2002.
In its work
programme of 2003, the Commission has announced to submit to Parliament and Council a Directive on
black spot management and road safety audits. With such procedures in place, it is possible to identify
sections of high risk and develop remedial measures in a cost effective way and target to safety critical
sections on spots in the network.

(1) Committee European Normalisation.
(2) OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.

(2003/C 280 E/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1410/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(14 April 2003)

Subject: Bull bars

The proposal for a directive relating to the protection of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users in the
event of a collision with a motor vehicle (1) concerns, inter alia, bull bars. Car manufacturers have given a
commitment not to install rigid bull bars on their motor vehicles, nor to sell them as spare parts.
In practice, many Belgian car dealers have already put an end to the use of bull bars. However, the proposal

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Official Journal of the European Union

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21.11.2003

for a directive makes no reference to a ban on the sale of bull bars by dealers in spare parts for cars.
New 4x4s with bull bars are therefore still being seen on Belgian roads.

Does the Commission agree that bull bars are dangerous accessories which increase the likelihood of
collisions involving vulnerable road users being fatal?

What research data does the Commission have on the consequences of collisions between cars fitted with
bull bars and vulnerable road users?

Does the Commission intend to take steps to completely ban bull bars? If so, when? If not, why not?

(1) COM(2003) 67 final.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2003)

The Commission is aware that
constitute an increased risk of injury to pedestrians and other road users in the event of a collision.

frontal protection systems, such as bull bars, mounted on vehicles

the European automobile manufacturers represented by the European Automobile
In June 2001,
Manufacturers Association (ACEA) committed themselves to introduce a range of safety measures to
improve pedestrian protection. Similar commitments were subsequently made by the Japanese and Korean
automobile manufacturers (represented by JAMA and KAMA, respectively) in July 2001 and March 2002
respectively. The commitments include an agreement not to install so-called ‘rigid bull bars’ as original
equipment on new motor vehicles, nor to sell them as spare parts, as of 1 January 2002. Rigid bull bars
are defined in the commitments as a frontal protection system made of steel or any other metal or material
presenting similar behavioral characteristics.

the
However, before taking a decision on whether
Commission decided to consult the Parliament and the Council. The Council,
in its Conclusions of
26 November 2001, stated the view that the use of rigid bull bars should be banned for passenger vehicles
carrying up to eight passengers and for vehicles designed for the carriage of goods up to 3,5 tonnes and
that the Commission should propose a means to do so. The Parliament, in its Resolution of 13 June 2002
also invited the Commission to propose legislation providing for a ban of bull bars on the after-market.

the commitments by the industry,

to accept

As a result, the Commission is preparing the submission of a legislative proposal aimed at reducing the
severity of injuries caused to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users when in collision with vehicles
fitted with frontal protection systems. This proposal will contain test procedures for all bull-bars and
similar devices placed on the market either as original or after-market equipment. In this regard the
Commission has taken into consideration a report (1) made by the Transport Research Laboratory in the
United Kingdom which provides a good assessment on potential approaches to the testing procedures
required for bull bars.

(1)

‘Assessment and test procedures for bull bars’, G. Lawrence, C. Rodmell and A. Osbourne. TRL Report 460.

(2003/C 280 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1415/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(23 April 2003)

Subject: Closure of the newspaper ‘Egunkaria’

On 20 February this year the newspaper ‘Euskaldunon Egunkaria’ was closed down in an operation
ordered by the judge of the Spanish National Court Juan del Olmo. The Civil Police Force arrested 10
people responsible for the newspaper, among them its director, Martxelo Otamendi, because of his
presumed entanglement with ETA. At present, three of them are still in prison.