Written question asked by Peter Bottomley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 February 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 February 1999. It was answered by Glenda Jackson (Labour) on Monday, 15 February 1999 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on progress in (a) developing offset crash testing of cars and (b) agreeing the appropriate height for side crash testing.

Answer: Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in (a) developing offset crash testing of cars and (b) agreeing the appropriate height for side crash testing. [70929] Ms Glenda Jackson: Both an offset frontal crash test and a side crash test with an appropriate barrier height have been agreed as part of the new EC Directives on frontal and side impact (96/79/EC and 96/27/EC), which took effect on 1 October 1998. These Directives represent a useful improvement over the original Commission proposals. Various aspects of the Directives are to be reviewed by 1 October 2000. We have commissioned new research to identify possible future development so that the UK can make an effective contribution to the review.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 70929; 325 c433-4W;325 c435-6W
Session: 1998-99
EC documents: Dir96/79/EC;Dir96/27/EC
Subjects: Cars EU law Motor vehicles Safety Research Testing Safety barriers