Brussels, 05/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - New compulsory measures such as safety belt reminders and safety requirements for electric vehicles are entering into effect for maximum vehicle safety.
A whole new series of safety requirements for new types of motor vehicles took effect on 1 November, pursuant to Regulation 661/2009/EC on type approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles. From now on, the driver's seat should be fitted with a safety belt reminder. Cars should be fitted with at least two ISOFIX child seat anchorage points, which are to be fully integrated in the rear seats. In addition, cars will be fitted with new labels, warning against the placement of rearward facing child restraint systems on a seat protected by an active frontal airbag. The rear passenger seats in front of the luggage compartment will now have to be made strong enough to protect against the displacement of luggage in the boot, in case of a frontal car crash. Tyres of passenger cars will have to be fitted with an on-board tyre pressure monitoring system detecting loss of air pressure and signalling this to the driver. Finally, the new types of passenger cars will also have to be fitted with gear change indicators aiding drivers to achieve better fuel economy by adopting a more environmentally-friendly driving style. Electric cars will have to meet strict electric safety requirements, ensuring that car users do not receive an electric shock from parts in the vehicle or engine compartment.
All these measures are henceforth compulsory for the new types of vehicles that undergo type-approval after 1 November 2012. They will become mandatory for all new vehicles sold on the EU market in 2014. (EH/transl.jl)