MEPs on the European Parliament’s Transport Committee held a discussion with the European Commission on Tuesday 21 March on the road safety package it presented on 1 March (see EUROPE 13132/1), which is part of its ‘zero fatalities’ targets for EU roads in 2050.
While most MEPs who spoke welcomed the Commission’s three proposals - on cross-border information exchange for traffic offences, enforcement of driving disqualifications and revised driving licence requirements - some regretted the Commission’s approach.
“There are three components: the vehicle, the infrastructure and the human factor. The Commission is much more interested in the human factor than in the rest”, said Dominique Riquet (Renew Europe, French), who pleads for elements of liability to be introduced for the entities in charge of managing the infrastructures.
Similarly, the French MEP believes that the condition of vehicles and the devices that calculate their mileage should be reviewed. “It’s not very complicated and it could be linked to vehicle control”, he added.
For Mr Riquet, the Commission’s approach should also be clarified on the prevention and control of drug use while driving. A point on which several MEPs seemed to agree with him.
“Regarding measures to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, what steps are being taken to achieve zero tolerance”, asked Petar Vitanov (S&D, Bulgarian).
For other groups, such as the Greens/EFA and Ciarán Cuffe (Green/EFA, Irish), the focus should be on the issue of speeding.
For others, such as the EPP, the Commission’s proposals should also introduce provisions to facilitate the access of young people to professions related to the professional driving sector. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)