The proposal has three components. 1. The compulsory use of restraints, where fitted, in front and rear seats of class M1 vehicles, the front seats of N1 vehicles and for certain M2 vehicles for both adults and children in the EU is required by Council Directive 91/671/EEC . Children under 12 years of age and less than 150 cm tall must be restrained by an approved system that is suitable for the child’s height and weight. However, it then goes on to permit Member States to have national legislation which may allow children of 3 years and older to be restrained by a system that is approved for adult use. In addition, Member States may exempt children younger than 3 years of age from wearing special restraint systems in rear seats if such systems are not available in the car (M1 vehicle). This proposal eliminates the above exemptions by requiring the compulsory use of child restraints. It also stipulates that child restraints should be approved to a recognised technical standard, namely UN-ECE Regulation 44.03 (its adaptation or their equivalent) and thus aims to make a significant contribution to road safety. 2. Rearward facing child restraints are by far the safest form of restraint for younger children and they are most appropriately affixed to the front passenger seat where the driver can safely keep the child in vision. However, the child is vulnerable to serious injury if the front seat, passenger air bag inflates. Directive 2000/3/EC requires that new cars be fitted with a label warning drivers of this risk. Similarly, rearward facing child restraints carry a warning but in both cases these may be ignored or not noticed by those that fix the child restraint to the front passenger seat. This proposal would prohibit the use of a rearward facing child restraint on a front passenger seat unless the relevant air bag has been de-activated (either disconnected or switched off). 3. Directives 96/36 ,37 and 38/EC in conjunction, lay down a European standard for the fitting of safety belts to all seats of new minibuses and coaches built after October 1999 and to lorries. This proposal requires that these safety belts, where fitted, shall be used by drivers and passengers. The proposal follows on from recommendations made in the Communication of the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled “Priority in EU Road Safety Progress Report and Ranking of Actions” which ranked the use of safety belts and child restraints as one of the top road safety priorities. (A)
Samenvatting