B3-1704/93

Resolution on seat-belts on coaches

The European Parliament,

A.having regard to recent coach accidents involving loss of life and serious personal injuries, in particular the crash on the M2 in Kent on 10 November 1993,

B.whereas the number of passengers travelling by coach in the European Community has reached record levels,

C.aware that coaches are still one of the safest means of passenger transport,

D.recognizing the contribution of the use of seat-belts and roll-over bars to road safety and the prevention of deaths and serious injuries,

E.recognizing the effect that excessive speed in poor road conditions can have on road safety,

F.expressing its sympathy to the families of the bereaved and the seriously injured,

1.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to legislate to have seat-belts and roll-over bars fitted to all new coaches as a matter of urgency;

2.Calls on the Commission to adopt as a matter of urgency an amendment to Directive 90/628/EEC on safety belts and restraint systems so as to require the compulsory fitting of seat-belts on new coaches;

3.Calls on the Member States to apply a uniform standard of road safety and type-approval measures to promote the highest standards of safety on all EC roads;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the governments of the Member States and the relevant working group of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.