Brussels, 06/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption last week at first reading of the report by Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (Swedish Social Democrat), the European Parliament made six amendments to the proposal of directive on harmonisation of the rules relating to the compulsory wearing of safety belts in vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes. Amending Directive 91/671, the proposed text will make it compulsory to use safety belts adapted for children on board private cars, as well as the use of belts for all categories of vehicles, including coaches, when these vehicles are fitted with safety belts. It also bans the use of rear-facing safety seats fitted to the front passenger seat, when the airbag systems cannot be disconnected (see EUROPE of 12 December 2000).
Generally in favour of the Commission's proposal, the EP specifies in its amendments that the size of the child must be taken into account (under 150 cm) rather than age (12 years), to impose the installation of suitable restraint systems. The EP also hopes that the Commission will launch information campaigns on the danger of airbags for children transported at the front of the vehicle. Finally, it considers there should be a derogation on the use of safety belts in buses, and for coaches used for transport outside towns but also sometimes in town. The European Commission seems to support these amendments.