Car firms call for voluntary safety scheme

Date: 14/12/00

CAR firms are calling on the European Commission to reject calls for EU legislation forcing them to introduce safety features to protect pedestrians, claiming the industry should be allowed to set its own standards.

The demand comes as enterprise chief Erkki Liikanen prepares to unveil a paper next week calling for urgent changes to the design of the front of vehicles, said to be responsible for the lion's share of fatal-impact accidents.

An aide to the Finnish Commissioner says the paper will suggest two options: a legally-binding directive or a voluntary scheme.

Supporters of mandatory safety standards claim car firms cannot be trusted to tackle the issue because of the costs of any redesigns. But Camille Blum, secretary-general of industry lobby group ACEA, insists car makers should be responsible for determining if design changes are needed.

"Industry is prepared to take its responsibility - even if the EU is the only part of the world which is going in this direction," he said.

He argues that the firms are in the best position to balance often-conflicting safety criteria. "For example, if we make our cars softer, there is a risk to the driver when he or she is in an accident," he said.

The move comes after the EU executive unveiled plans this week to strengthen the Union's seatbelt laws by forcing drivers and passengers in cars, lorries and buses to wear them whenever they are fitted to vehicles.

Car firms are calling on the European Commission to reject calls for EU legislation forcing them to introduce safety features to protect pedestrians, claiming the industry should be allowed to set its own standards.