Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 92002E1452

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1452/02 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Whiplash injury.** 
  
*Official Journal 277 E , 14/11/2002 P. 0208 - 0208*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1452/02

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 May 2002)

Subject: Whiplash injury

As the Commission stated in its answer E-0310/02(1) of 21 March 2002, whiplash injury is a major car safety issue. The Commission goes on to say, the Commission decided, as part of its 4th Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development, to launch research initiatives [] with a view to introducing new designs of seat backs and head restraints systems.

In the meantime the fifth five-year framework programme has been completed. When can we expect results, practical measures and new rules designed to prevent whiplash injury?

(1) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 111.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2002)

In its answer dated 21 March 2002, the Commission informed the Honourable Member that the Community legislation concerning head restraint systems has already been amended in 1997 to take into account the main findings of TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) research work. The Commission also underlined the fact that further improvements were necessary with a view to tackling the prevention of whiplash injuries more efficiently.

Research and technology development programmes focussing on the whiplash issue are being performed all over the world and also within the 4th and the 5th Framework Programmes which include the following two projects:

- Whiplash I: Reduction of neck injuries and their societal costs in rear end collisions (project completed in October 2000).

- Whiplash II: Development of new design and test methods for whiplash protection in vehicle collision (project started in March 2001).

The overall objective of these projects is to contribute to the realisation of a new generation of vehicles which offer better protection against neck injuries by improving the design of the complete seat-head restraint system but also to the development of a new approach to the global restraint system issue.

The results obtained up to now have a high potential and are very promising. However, some important issues still remain to be completely understood, such as the mechanisms that cause the injuries to the neck. Therefore, it is presently difficult to forecast the outcome of the research work in progress and the resultant introduction of new regulations.

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