Seat belts to be compulsory on buses and lorries

The Transport Committee voted on 19 April on a package of measures at second reading to make seat belts compulsory in all vehicles. Seat belts will in future have to be fitted not only in private cars but also in minibuses, buses, coaches, light commercial vehicles and lorries.

The committee agreed with Council that side-facing seats should not be allowed in small buses and coaches, even if these seats have safety belts and anchorages. MEPs voted to exempt from this rule conference buses, where side-facing seats are grouped together to form an integrated saloon with a maximum of 10 seating positions at the rear end of the vehicle.  But they said that side-facing seats in conference buses should at least be fitted with a head-rest and a two-point belt with retractor.

The second-reading recommendations, drafted by Dieter-Lebrecht KOCH (D) and Paolo COSTA (I) were adopted by large majorities.

For more information:
- draft recommendation for second reading (Dieter-Lebrecht Koch MEP) on the Council common position for adopting a directive relating to motor vehicles with regard to seats, their anchorages and head restraints (COD (2003) 0128); and amendments
- draft recommendation for second reading (Paolo Costa MEP) on the Council common position for adopting a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to safety belts and restraint systems of motor vehicles (COD (2003) 0130); and amendments
- draft recomendation for second reading on the Council common position for adopting a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to anchorages for motor-vehicle safety belts (COD(2003) 0136); and amendments

recommendation_prov_belts_128.pdf (146 KB)

amendments_belts_128.pdf (119 KB)

recommendation_prov_belts_130.pdf (142 KB)

amendments_belts_130.pdf (127 KB)

recommendation_prov_belts_136.pdf (142 KB)

amendments_belts_136.pdf (126 KB)

Related News Items:
- Council: Common Position on Seat Belts adopted (24 January 2005)
- Parliament backs compulsory seat belts (17 December 2003)