92003E0635

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0635/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(4 March 2003)

Subject: Intelligent headlights

The car industry would like to introduce intelligent headlights for vehicles. These swivelling car eyes, as they are termed, increase the field of vision and are considered by the industry to be a road safety enhancement. All that the car industry is waiting for is for European legislation to be adapted.

Is the Commission planning to adapt the ECE Directive and make the use of intelligent headlights possible?

If so, can it say what its plans and objectives are?

If not, what are the Commission's objections to intelligent headlights?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) Regulation 48 concerning the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices has already been adapted to permit the use of headlamps whose beam pattern can be modified to provide additional light in the direction that the vehicle is turning, known as bend lighting. In addition, two other Regulations dealing with headlamps as components have also been adapted to include provisions for bend lighting.

As the Community is a signatory to the UN/ECE Agreement under which these Regulations were made, and having acceeded to these particular Regulations, the Member States are obliged to permit the placing on the market of vehicles and components that comply with these provisions. Indeed, a number of vehicles have already obtained Community whole vehicle type approval with bend lighting installed, and the Commission is not aware of any problems being experienced by any manufacturer in getting such approvals.