92001E3172

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3172/01

by Maria Sanders-ten Holte (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 November 2001)

Subject: Dangers to children travelling as passengers on motorbikes

In the Netherlands, there are laws about transporting children in motor vehicles on the public highway. On mopeds and bicycles proper child-seats are required, yet if children ride pillion on motorbikes, they are only required to wear helmets.

In practice, this means that some motor-cyclists use child-seats intended for bicycles or mopeds, some strap the child to themselves and others take no precautions at all. This leads to very dangerous situations, children generally being less well protected than motor-cyclists are themselves.

As far as I know, no European legislation yet exists on this subject.

1. Is there a loophole in the law here which endangers children on motorbikes?

2. What legislation exists on this subject in other Member States?

3. Will the Commission investigate this matter, and might it propose European legislation (e.g. framework legislation)?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2002)

1. The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member about children travelling as passengers on motorbikes and that this could lead to very dangerous situations. Indeed from the most recent accident data available in the Community Road Accident Database (CARE), it can be derived that more than 110 children up to 14 years, travelling as passengers on motorbikes, have been killed on the Community roads over the years 1991 to 2000.

2. The Commission is not aware of any specific national legislation existing in the Member States which goes beyond requiring the wearing of helmets by drivers and passengers on motorbikes as it is the case e.g. in the Netherlands.

3. The Commission will further investigate this issue and will indeed, if necessary, undertake any appropriate action in the field of motorcycle safety, taking due account of the principle of subsidiarity.