CELEX: 51990PC0524
Language: pt
Date: 1990-11-14
Title: ALTERACAO DA PROPOSTA DE DIRECTIVA DO CONSELHO RELATIVA A APROXIMACAO DAS LEGISLACOES DOS ESTADOS-MEMBROS RESPEITANTES AO USO OBRIGATORIO DOS CINTOS DE SEGURANCA NOS VEICULOS DE MENOS DE 3,5 TONELADAS

COMISSÃO DAS COMUNIDADES EUROPEIAS
                                 COM(90) 524 final
                                 Bruxelas, 14 de Novembro de 1990
                   Alteração da proposta de
                     DirectivatioConselho
 relativa à aproximação das legislações dos Estados-membros
   respeitantes ao uso obrigatório dos cintos de segurança
            nos veículos de menos de 3,5 toneladas
            (Apresentada pela Comissão ao Conselho
      nos termos do na 3 do artigo 149o. do Tratado CEE)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                     - 2 -
                           EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Subject :   Amendment to the proposal for a Council Directive on the
            approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
            the compulsory use of safety belts In vehicles of less than
            3.5 tonnes to Include the restraining of children
Background :
A Parliamentary Resolution of 13 March 1984C), on the introduction
of a programme of Community measures to promote road safety called upon
the Community to make every effort to Improve road safety and specified
that among those measures to which immediate priority should be given
was the introduction of compulsory wearing of safety belts on all
roads, both rural and urban. A further Resolution of
18 February 1986 < 2 ) urged that the compulsory wearing of belts
should apply to ail passengers, including chi Idren, except in public
service vehicles.
In its draft resolution on the Implementation of a Community road
safety programme , submitted to the Council on 20 March 1984(3), the
Commission recommended a number of measures to be taken in this
context, including one concerning the wearing of safety belts in both
front and rear seats. The Council Resolution of 19 December 1984^4^
welcomed the Commission's Initiative, affirmed the need to provide for
Community action on road safety and Invited the Commission to submit
proposals, undertaking at the same time to ensure their rapid
adoption. It noted that the Commission's draft contained specific
areas where action was proposed: among these areas was the wearing of
safety belts.
These Initiatives resulted In the proposal COM (88) 544< 5 ).
Article 7 of the proposal gave an exemption to children under 12 years
of age from wearing seat belts and restraint systems because "the
Commission believes It will be necessary to conduct a study of Member
States laws and practices concerning child restraints before proposing
Community norms on this subject". The proposal contains the following
'Whereas' - "Whereas the technical requirements of child restraint
systems are still the subject of discussions and study by the
Commission and will therefore be the subject of a later amendment to
this Directive." The Commission undertook to submit to the Council,
before 1 January 1991, a proposal for a Directive relating to special
restraint systems for children under twelve.
(1) O.J. N" C 104, 16.04.1984, P. 38
(2) O.J. N" C 68, 24.03.1986, P. 35
(3) O.J. N* C 95, 06.04.1984. P. 2
(4) O.J. N' C 341, 21.12.1984, P     1
(5) O.J. N' C 298, 23.11.1988, P. 8
                                                                        4*
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 3 -
The European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee delivered
their opinions on the proposal on 17 M a r c h a and 27 April 1989^7^.
The European Parliament emphasised "that the Commission should as soon
as possible submit new proposals regarding compulsory seat belts for
children under 12 years old".
The ESC took the view that "there are already enough restraint systems
on the market specially designed for small children (under 12) to
Justify an early adoption of a Directive for this category of passenger
too".
Chi Id Restraint Systems
Children cannot use adult seat belts effective M y without some kind of
complementary system. Special child restraints have therefore been
developed. Smaller children In many countries travel in a rearward
facing position In order to reduce neck loading In a frontal collision
thereby distributing the loads on the back of the child. For older
children; forward facing systems, using separate belts or the adult
seat belt with a modified geometry are common.
The use of child restraints has proven to be very effective. Rearward
facing systems suitable for smaller children (new born up to 2 or 3
years old) reduce the risk of Injury by approx. 90 % while forward
facing systems suitable for older children reduce numbers of injuries
by 60 %.
These high efficiencies are linked to the correct use of the restraint.
Today there are a number of types of child restraint systems on the
market :
1.   Rearward facing child seat for new born infants, where the car
     Instrument panel is not used as part of the restraint system. The
     seat Is anchoraged by the adult seat belt and can be used In both
     the front and rear seats.
2.   Rearward facing child seats for children aged from 9 months up to 2
     or 3 years, mainly for front seat mounting and using the Instrument
     panel as part of the restraint system.
3.   Forward facing booster cushions where the child is restrained by
     the adult seat belt and the cushion Is anchored to the car, the
     seat belt being guided through hooks. The booster cushion is
     recommended for children below the age of approx 10 years who have
     outgrown rearward facing child seats.
4.   Forward facing booster chairs, which are cushions with a seat back
     and a head rest.
(6) opinion of the European Parliament: O.J. N" C 96, 17.04.1989,
     P. 220
(7) opinion of the ESC: O.J. N* C 159, 26.06.1989, P. 52
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 4-
5.   Forward facing child seats suitable for smaller children from 9
     months to 4 years.
6.   Child seat belts In the form of a harness (although some consider
     that the three point belt Is generally safer than the full harness
     system).
The standard for Child Restraint Systems
ECE Reg 44 - "Uniform Provisions concerning the approval of Restraining
Devices for Child Occupants of powerdriven Vehicles ("Child
Restraints")" Is the most commonly used regulation on child restraints
 In Europe and covers all types of child restraint systems. The
regulation works well and has led to a considerable Increase In the
quality of the products used In Europe. A Community Directive Is to be
based on ECE Reg 44 which will take on board the planned amendments to
that regulation aimed at better alignment with modern passenger car
restraint systems.
To date there are around 200 different types of restraint system
approved under ECE Reg 44.
Contents of the amendment
With the progress made by Member States In defining national
requirements for the approval of child restraint systems It is now
possible to adapt the base proposal (COM (88) 544) to include children
and their restraint systems.
This adaptation legislates for the mandatory use of child restraint
systems in such a way that does not preclude children from travelling
In a car where suitable restraint systems are not available. However,
it does encourage the availability of suitable restraint systems by
insisting that children of all ages can travel in the front passenger
seating position only if they are restrained by a system commensurate
with their age and size.
Children occupying the forward facing rear seating positions should be
restrained by appropriate systems If they are available in the car. The
technical standard to which child restraint systems are approved will
be those of Member States national requirements until such time that a
Directive is passed on a harmonised community standard.
 ---pagebreak---                                      - 5 -
                          Alteração da proposta de
                            Directiva do Conselho
       relativa à aproximação das legislações dos Estados-membros
         respeitantes ao uso obrigatório dos cintos de segurança
                   nos veículos de menos de 3,5 toneladas
A  proposta     da   Comissão   de    26    de   Outubro    de  1988,   documento
C0M(88)554 (1) , e alterada do seguinte modo :
1.  0 artigo 2 Q    deve ser   alterado    de modo a      incluir o sistema de
    retenção de crianças:
    "Artigo 2o_
    1.   Os  Estados-membros     devem    assegurar    que    o  condutor   e  os
         passageiros dos bancos da frente dos veículos da categoria M1
         que estejam em circulação, matriculados peia primeira vez em 1
         de  Março   de   1979  ou   após    esta   data,   utilizam   cintos  de
         segurança    homologados   ou   estão    seguros   por  um   sistema  de
         retenção homologado. As crianças com 12 anos de idade ou mais
         podem utilizar os cintos de segurança homologados para adultos.
         As crianças com idade inferior a 12 anos podem ocupar o banco
         de passageiros da frente se utilizarem um sistema de retenção
         separado ou adicional      ao cinto de segurança        para  adultos e
         adaptado à Idade e peso da criança. Tal sistema deve ter sido
         declarado válido pelas autoridades competentes de um Estado-
         membro e ser reconhecido como tal noutros Estados-membros.
(1) JO no C 298 de 23.11.1988, p. 8.
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 6-
   2.  Os Estados-membros devem assegurar que, o mais tardar em 1 de
       Janeiro de 1993, os passageiros com 12 anos de Idade ou mais
       que ocupam    os bancos     traseiros    voltados   para   a frente  dos
       veículos    da    categoria     M1    que   estejam    em    circulação,
       matriculados pela primeira vez em 1 de Janeiro de 1990 ou após
       esta data utilizam      cintos de segurança homologados ou estão
       seguros por um sistema de retenção homologado.
   3.  Os Estados-membros devem assegurar que, o mais tardar em 1 de
       Junho de 1991, todas as crianças com Idade Inferior a 12 anos
       que ocupem    os   bancos   traseiros    voltados   para   a frente  dos
       veículos   de   categoria    M1   que   se  encontrem    em  circulação,
       independentemente     da   data    de  matricula    do   veiculo,  devem
       utilizar   um   sistema   de    retenção   caso   exista.   0  cinto  de
       segurança ou o sistema de retenção homologados mencionados no
       no. 2 do artigo 2o. é autorizado para crianças com mais de 4 anos
       de idade. As crianças com        idade Inferior devem estar seguras
       por um sistema separado ou adicional ao cinto de segurança para
       adultos, adaptado à idade e ao peso da criança. Tal sistema
       deve ter sido declarado válido peias autoridades competentes de
       um Estado-membro e ser reconhecido como tal noutros Estados-
       membros."
2. 0 artigo 3o e alterado por forma a Incluir os sistemas de retenção
   de crianças.
   "Artigo 3 Q
   Os Estados-membros     devem  assegurar     que, o mais     tardar  em  1 de
   Janeiro de 1993,    o condutor e os passageiros dos bancos da frente
   dos veículos das categorias M2 e N1 que estejam em circulação,
   matriculados pela primeira vez em 1 de Outubro de 1991 ou após esta
   data, utilizam cintos de segurança ou estão seguros por um sistema
   de retenção homologado.
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 7 -
    As crianças com 12 anos de idade ou mais podem utilizar os cintos
    de segurança homologados para adultos. As crianças mais novas podem
    ocupar o banco de passageiros da frente se estiverem seguras por um
    sistema separado ou adicional ao cinto de segurança para adultos e
    adaptado à   Idade e peso da criança. Tal    sistema  deve ter sido
    declarado válido pelas autoridades competentes de um Estado-membro
    e ser reconhecido como tal noutros Estados-membros."
3.  0 artigo 6o. é alterado de modo a incluir os sistemas de retenção de
    cr lanças.
    "Artigo 6 Q
    O disposto nos artigos 2o., 3 Q e 4a e no artigo 7 Q apllca-se aos
    condutores e passageiros de veículos em circulação na Comunidade
    registados num pais terceiro se tais veículos dispuserem de cintos
    de segurança e de sistemas de retenção."
4.  O artigo 7 Q é suprimido.
5.  Os artigos 9o, 10o © 11o passam a ser, respectivamente, os artigos
7o, 8o, 9o e 10o.
Feito em Bruxelas, em
                                              Pelo Conselho
 ---pagebreak---                                 -8 -
         Competitiveness and Employment  Impact Statement
     What is the main reason for Introducing the measure?
          The current proposal exempts children under 12 years of age
     from the mandatory use of seat belts and restraint systems.
     This amendment includes children of all age groups.
          By adopting the amendment will ensure that children in the
     front passenger seating position are adequately protected,
     children in the rear will be protected If restraint systems are
     aval table.
     Features of the business In question
         Mandating the use of child restraint systems will have a
     positive benefit for system manufacturers.
 in. What obligations does this measure Impose directly on business?
         Business cars of categories Ml, M2 and Ni should be equlped
     with suitable child restraint systems for the front passenger
     seat If a child Is carried In that seat. Where no children are
     carried then there are no obligations.
 IV. What indirect obligations are national, regional or local
     autharltles Mkelv to Impose on business?
          Implementation of the obligations as described under III
V.   Are there anv special provisions In respect of SME's?
     None.
VI.  What Is the likely effect on :
     a) the competitiveness of business
        None
     b) employment
        None
 ---pagebreak---                                 _ 9 -
VII. Have the relevant representative organisations been consulted?
     Yes. Road Safety organisations gave a favourable opinion apart
     from those of the UK, FRG and Danish authorities who refute
     community competence In the area of mandatory use of seat belts
     etc.
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                                ISSN 0257-9553
                                                                 COM(90) 524 final
                                                     DOCUMENTOS
PT                                                                                07 05 06
                                       N.° de catálogo : CB-CO-90-571-PT-C
                                                               ISBN 92-77-65831-2
PRP£0 DE VENDA
                     1    iúà 30 págiiias: 1,50 IÍCU    cud/» 10 páginas a mais 1,25 ECU
Serviço das Publicações Oficiais das Comunidades Europeias
1^2985 Luxemburgo