WRITTEN QUESTION E-2017/03 by Jan Dhaene (PSE) to the Commission. Technical equipment for trucks.
Date: 2003-06-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: commercial vehicle, road safety, safety device, technical regulations, transport regulations, transport safety

C 70 E/72

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

(cid:1) Euratom Regulation 3227/76 concerning the application of the provisions on Euratom safeguards,
which requires inter alia that regular reports are sent to the Commission on the activities of a nuclear
site.

It is for the Commission to ensure proper application of this legislation, including inspections on the site.
The Community, as a contracting party to the Ospar Convention, has endorsed the Ospar Strategy with
regard to radioactive substances, the objective of which is the prevention of pollution of the maritime area
from ionizing radiation. Furthermore, the Community’s Sixth Environmental Action Programme provides
for the development of a thematic strategy for the protection and the preservation of the marine
environment.

Regarding in particular nuclear waste, a Commission proposal for a Directive on the management of spent
nuclear fuel and radioactive waste is being discussed in the Council bodies.

(2004/C 70 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2017/03

by Jan Dhaene (PSE) to the Commission

(17 June 2003)

Subject: Technical equipment for trucks

In recent months, several appalling accidents involving truck drivers have happened on the international
E17 Antwerp-Ghent-Lille motorway.
the trucks were equipped with cruise control.
Inattentive drivers collided at full speed with slow or stationary traffic which had been held up by
roadworks.

In every case,

This problem is not peculiar to the road concerned. All over Europe, accidents are happening in which
cruise control is a factor, involving both trucks and private cars. These accidents cost lives. In recent weeks
in Belgium alone, six people have been killed and 13 seriously injured in accidents involving cruise
control.

Transport unions have also realised that cruise control does their drivers more harm than good.

On the other hand, the compulsory installation of systems to improve the field of vision (blind spot
cameras and/or mirrors) on existing trucks has certainly made trucks less of a hazard to cyclists.
Continuous side under-run protection (side skirts between the wheels of a truck) prevents cyclists from
falling under the wheels of the truck if an accident happens.

The Commission:

1.

Is it considering making it compulsory for trucks to have continuous side under-run protection? If so,
how soon? May Member States introduce this requirement without European legislation on the
subject?

2. Does it have sufficient data about the impact of cruise control in trucks on road safety?

3.

Is it considering banning cruise control for trucks? If so, how soon is such a ban likely to take effect?
May Member States impose such a ban without any amendment being made to the relevant European
legislation?

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/73

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(30 July 2003)

Directive 89/297/EEC (1) does not, strictly speaking, require the use of any means of flat, continuous
protection, but does allow the use of one or more horizontal rails placed in such a way as to prevent
cyclists from being caught under a vehicle. The Directive is optional and Member States may therefore
make its application compulsory or optional in the framework of their national legislation. On 14 July
2003, the Commission proposed extending the type-approval procedure for motor vehicles covered by
Directive 70/156/EEC (2) to include heavy goods vehicles and public passenger transport vehicles on the
basis of a timetable to run from January 2006 to 2010 and by vehicle category. Once the Community
procedure is in force, Directive 89/297/EEC will then apply to all lorries and semi-trailers registered for the
first time.

With regard to cruise control devices, the Honourable Member is referred to the answer to Written
Question E-1501/03 by Mrs Van Brempt (3). The Commission is concerned about the increase in the
number of lorry accidents where the use of cruise control seems to be involved. It will endeavour to gather
objective information to enable it to assess any measures which might be necessary.

(1) Council Directive 89/297/EEC of 13 April 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to

the lateral protection (side guards) of certain motor vehicles and their trailers, OJ L 124, 5.5.1989.

(2) Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating

to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, OJ L 42, 23.2.1970.

(3) See page 48.

(2004/C 70 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2063/03

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE)
and Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 June 2003)

Subject: Water supplies and quality of water in Greece

The ‘Nea Dimokratia’ party has officially accused the Greek government of cutting off funding (established
on the basis of Greek Law 2065/92) for Public Water Supply and Sewerage Companies, thereby depriving
over 150 public companies of the funds to which they are entitled and which are vital for the execution of
projects. ‘Nea Dimokratia’ also declares that this state of affairs is creating self-evident problems, mainly in
the execution of urgent infrastructure projects: in the Mornos water conduit alone (which supplies Athens
with water) 55 km are uncovered (out of a total of 122 km), and debris, rubbish, dead animals etc. fall into
the network, creating obvious health risks for the inhabitants of Athens and even endangering their lives
(recently a small boy fell into an unprotected open water conduit and drowned).

It should be pointed out that last winter and this spring there was abundant rainfall in Greece, and it was
therefore to be expected that large volumes of water would have accumulated in tanks. Despite this, the
Greek media have been referring to the ‘risk of drought’ this summer and the ‘Water Supply and Sewerage
Company of the Capital’ has already announced a 3,5 % increase in rates.

Are the water supply infrastructure projects in Greece sufficient?

Have all the projects planned in this sector over the last ten years actually been executed?

What is the Commission’s view of the take-up of Community funds in the water supply sector in Greece?