The EU’s internal market ministers endorsed on Monday 26 November a voluntary agreement with the European car industry on measures to increase pedestrian safety. The European car makers committed themselves to new safety measures, such as the introduction of ABS and daytime running lights, and the withdrawal of bull bars.
The ACEA “Commitment on Pedestrian Safety” contains the following elements:
- all ACEA members will commit to achieve a first phase of pedestrian protection standards for all new vehicles from 1 July, 2005 (with gradual phase-in: 80 per cent from 1 July, 2010; 90 per cent in 2011; and 100 per cent in 2012);
- all new vehicles will be equipped with daytime running lights from 2002 and anti-lock brake systems (ABS) from 2003;
- car manufacturers will no longer fit or market rigid bull bars from 1 January 2002;
- the industry will progressively install additional active safety devices on all new motor cars. These will include electronic sensors and other features (promoted by the eEurope Action Plan);
- the industry will comply with a more stringent set of pedestrian safety targets proposed by the European Enhanced Safety Vehicle Committee (EEVC). These rules will be phased in from 2010.