Gerard Murphy
Question:9 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the plans he has to introduce seat belts on buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15811/04]
View answerThursday, 27 May 2004
Questions (13)
Oral answers (11 contributions)
Requirements on the use of seat belts in buses under EU law and national regulations apply to the driver and each passenger in a forward facing front seat of a bus up to 3,500 kg maximum weight, where seat belts are fitted.
Directive 2003/20/EC, which was adopted in April 2003, provides, inter alia, for the compulsory wearing of seat belts by all occupants of vehicles, including buses where seat belts are provided. Under the directive, special provisions apply in respect of children under three years of age. Member states are required to transpose this directive into their national laws by 9 May 2006. However, it will be necessary to adopt a number of supporting proposals on type-approval standards concerned with the mandatory fitting of seat belts before the directive on the compulsory wearing of seat belts can be implemented and enforced.
In this regard, last year the European Commission published proposals to amend a number of directives relating to the type-approval requirements for safety belts and restraint systems, anchorages for safety belts and seats, their anchorages and head restraints. The proposals provide, inter alia, for the mandatory fitting of seat belts in all buses and coaches at manufacturing stage, other than those used on staged-stop urban services. Under the proposals, it would be a requirement for the sale, registration and entry into service of new buses and coaches, from 1 January 2006, that their safety belts and restraint systems, anchorages for safety belts and seats, their anchorages and head restraints, would conform to the technical requirements specified in the proposed directives. It is expected that the proposals will be considered by the Council of Transport Ministers shortly, with a view to the adoption of a common position by member states. For practical engineering reasons, I have no proposals to require existing buses to be retro-fitted with seat belts.
As the Minister is currently president of the EU Transport Council, will he consider the mandatory fitting of seat belts on all school buses that come into service? In the United Kingdom all school buses must have seat belts following the introduction of a mandatory regulatory system for all new buses providing school transport. Will the Minister consider introducing such a scheme here, given that a report published by the Oireachtas in 1999 called for such measures?
I share the same objective as the Deputy in wanting to see every bus fitted with seat belts on every seat, apart from local buses such as those used on staged-stop urban services. All medium and long-distance buses should be fitted with safety belts. That matter will be sorted out for new buses and coaches from 1 January 2006, assuming we can get some changes in type-approval standards.
The assessment of the Department of Transport to me on the retro-fitting of buses, such as school buses, which are already in service is that it presents substantial engineering difficulties. The Deputy is probably making a distinction between school buses which come into service as opposed to those already in service. The buses which are in service provide virtually all the capacity at present. Not many new buses are coming into service and, when they do, they tend to be the older type of bus. The Department informs me that there are practical engineering reasons for requiring them to be retro-fitted and that starting with new buses is the most practical way forward.
If the Deputy can suggest a way around this problem, I would be interested in pursuing it because I would like to see seat belts on every school bus from tomorrow if it were practical. Recalling them all or refusing to allow them on the road from a certain date could be considered, but there are substantial financial implications for the owners of these buses.
A number of solutions were proposed in the Oireachtas report of 1999. I suggest that the Minister speaks to his colleagues in the UK who have put in place such a system. Is it not the case that, under the current and planned regulations, it will be at least 2021 before any school buses have seat belts other than those for special needs children? Does the Minister not agree that it is unacceptable that school buses will not have seat belts for the next 15 years, even though they will be obligatory on passenger services in the intervening period? He should consider the introduction of a regulation whereby any bus which is commissioned for the school transport service would have to have seat belts fitted to them retrospectively.
This is the issue of whether the Government wishes to insist on retro-fitting these buses.
What about fitting them in new buses entering the service rather than existing buses?
There are not many of those. The school bus fleet is practically complete. Every child in the country who needs it is being transported by an existing bus. This would only apply to a handful of buses.
It could happen over a period of time, unless the Minister wants to wait until 2021.
I do not.
That is what the Minister is saying at the moment.
From 1 January 2006, new coaches and buses will be required to have seat belts. That will commence the process and I have asked the Department to examine whether there is any way forward in terms of requiring school buses to have seat belts from a particular date. If we were to embark on this, the best thing would be to select a date and require all school buses to have seat belts fitted by that date. We are examining that proposal closely to see if it is possible.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.