The European Parliament plenary will be voting on the texts in June or July 2007. (an)
Brussels, 10/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - Adopting on first reading on Thursday a series of compromise amendments to the report by Italian Liberal Paolo Costa on the draft directive on the a posteriori fitting of rear-view mirrors to heavy goods vehicles, the European Parliament paved the way for the legislation to be adopted. Meeting in plenary, the MEPs amended the transport committee's position and extended, until 30 March 2009, the deadline for fitting rear view mirrors to all lorries of at least 3.5 tonnes currently in circulation in the EU.
To protect the most vulnerable road users as soon as possible (motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists), the European Commission unveiled a draft directive on 5 October 2006 on the fitting of rear-view mirrors to reduce the blind spot of drivers of lorries already in circulation. This will complete Directive 2003/97 which made it compulsory for all lorries, buses and coaches registered from 2007 onwards to be fitted with rear-view mirrors meeting certain conditions, depending on the type of vehicle in question (see EUROPE 9278). The EP's transport committee endorsed the directive, bringing forward the date of transposition of the new directive from the date put forward by the Commission (see EUROPE 9397), which some member states found unacceptable due to cost concerns. The use of informal dialogue among the Council led to the EP deciding that by 31 March 2009 (the transport committee actually wanted this to come into force on 30 June 2008), all lorries, buses and coaches already in circulation in the EU, whose expected lifetime was less than 10 years, had to be fitted on the passenger side with wide angle side rear-view mirrors in line with Directive 2003/97.
The Parliament also adopted, in agreement with the Council, a series of derogations for vehicles that cannot fully meet the directive's measures for technical or financial reasons. In the event of derogations, the competent authorities have to authorise and approve other solutions, which the member states must notify to the Commission. In parallel to this technical obligation, the EP feels that it is necessary for member states to run awareness raising campaigns for the most vulnerable users. (aby)