92000E3671

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3671/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(28 November 2000)

Subject: Introduction of blind-spot mirrors

In the Belgian Federation, fifteen people have already been killed on the roads this year because truck-drivers failed to see them in the blind spot left by their wing-mirrors. According to the Belgian Road Safety Institute, a truck-driver on average fails to see a road-user to the right of his vehicle in his wing-mirror five times every day.

Yet there is a simple solution to the problem, the special blind-spot mirror. This is a small convex mirror which is also used when taking dangerous hairpin bends. However, in order to make it compulsory to instal these mirrors on vehicles notably trucks Directive 71/127/EEC(1) (last amended by Directive 88/321/EEC(2) of 16 May 1988) would have to be amended.

Would the Council support a proposal by the Commission to amend Directive 71/127/EEC (last amended by Directive 88/321/EEC of 16 May 1988) so as to make it compulsory for vehicles notably trucks to be fitted with blind-spot wing mirrors? If not, why does the Council not consider it necessary to introduce such mirrors in order to reduce the number of deaths on the roads caused by this problem? In its opinion, what more effective ways might there be of solving the problem of the blind spot in the field of vision of drivers?

(1) OJ L 68, 22.3.1971, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 147, 14.6.1988, p. 77.

Reply

(8 March 2001)

The Council shares the opinion of the Honourable Member. It considers that a solution to the problem of the blind spot in the field of vision of drivers of motor vehicles is among the measures which could make a major contribution to a reduction in the number of road accidents.

On 26 June 2000 the Council adopted a Resolution on the improvement of road safety(1) which enlarges upon the priorities indicated by the Commission in the communication it submitted in March 2000 in the context of the second Community action programme promoting road safety in the European Union for the period 1997 to 2001.

In its Resolution, the Council invited the Commission to submit seven legislative proposals as quickly as possible and to continue work on a number of investigative and information measures. The legislative measures include the one referred to by the Honourable Member, namely to amend Directive 71/127/EEC in such a way as to increase the field of lateral and rear visibility of vehicles, thus reducing blind spots.

The Council is awaiting a proposal from the Commission along those lines and will certainly accord that proposal due priority.

(1) OJ C 218, 31.7.2000, p. 1.