| Author (Person) | Bower, Helen |
|---|---|
| Publisher | ProQuest Information and Learning |
| Series Title | In Focus |
| Series Details | 17.06.02 |
| Publication Date | 17/06/2002 |
| Content Type | News, Overview, Topic Guide | In Focus |
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The number of pedestrians and cyclists killed on Europe's roads should be reduced in the future following a vote by the European Parliament. At the plenary session on 13 June 2002, MEPs gave their support to a voluntary agreement negotiated between the European Commission and the European car industry to enhance pedestrian safety but called for a legislative framework to be established which would reinforce the implementation of such measures. Each year, 9,000 pedestrians and cyclists are killed across Europe each year and a further 200,000 are injured. As part of the European Commission's ongoing effort to reduce these figures, it has sought to make European carmakers improve safety standards without distorting the EU's single market. In December 2000, the European Commission decided to approach the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) with a view to reaching an industry self-commitment to increase the protection of pedestrians and other road users from injury as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle. The European Commission also agreed to undertake parallel negotiations with the Japanese and Korean Manufacturers Associations (JAMA and KAMA, respectively) and to continue work in parallel on a proposal for a Directive to be prepared in the event that industry was unable to offer a satisfactory commitment. A decision between either the industry commitment or a Directive was to be made by mid-2001. Following a public hearing on 6 February 2001, at which all interested stakeholders had the possibility to express their views concerning provisions to increase pedestrian protection, the European Commission successfully concluded negotiations with the European automobile industry on the nature of a commitment. On 11 July 2001, the European Commission published a Communication on the issue which called for consultation with the European Parliament and Council of the European Union before a decision was taken as to whether to accept the industry commitment or propose new legislation. In November 2001 the Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Council accepted the voluntary commitment of the European automobile manufacturers association (ACEA) on pedestrian protection as it offered a way to speed up the implementation of certain measures to improve the protection of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. However, it made its acceptance conditional upon involving Member States in monitoring the commitment, developing a global technical regulation on pedestrian protection in the framework of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, extending the marketing ban on rigid bull bars to all new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, and deferring the introduction of Daytime Running Lights until the corresponding technical procedures have been defined. The European Parliament joined the Council in accepting the commitment but on the condition that a short European Commission Framework Directive be proposed in the near future. The majority of MEPs felt that the commitment would ensure improved pedestrian safety much quicker than legislation and would only cost around €50 per car. The proposals would also allow the dynamic industry to continue to make technological advances. Hannes Swoboda, a European Socialist, said this was a casebook example of the 'Better Regulation' proposals that the European Commission had recently put forward and it represented a middle way between restricting industry and no legislation whatsoever. The industry's commitment focuses on car design and combines passive and active safety measures: Passive safety measures
Active safety measures
Although the European Automobile Manufacturers Association will welcome the European Parliament's acceptance of its proposed commitment many other European organisations are likely to criticise the Parliament's vote. On 16 April 2002, ahead of the European Parliament's Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism Committee's vote on the voluntary agreement on pedestrian protection in car crashes several, European NGOS joined forces and called on the Committee to reject the agreement. Jeanne Breen, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said:
The ETSC reiterated its call to the European Parliament in another press release, issued jointly with the European Consumers Organisation (BEUC) and European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation (ANEC), ahead of the plenary vote. It said:
The only consolation for these organisations is that the European Parliament has explicitly called on the European Commission to propose legislation on the issue in the near future. Calling the MEPs' vote 'good news for pedestrians' Erkki Liikanen, the European Commissioner for Enterprise, said that the European Commission would indeed put forward a framework Directive by the end of 2002. Links: European Parliament:
European Commission:
The European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC): European Transport Safety Council:
European Automobile Manufacturers Association: European Sources Online:
Helen Bower The European Parliament, voted on 13 June 2002, to support a voluntary agreement negotiated between the European Commission and the European car industry to enhance pedestrian safety but called for a legislative framework to be established which would reinforce the implementation of such measures. |
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| Subject Categories | Mobility and Transport |
