The committee adopted the report by Dieter-Lebrecht
KOCH (EPP-ED, DE) broadly approving the Council's common
position under the 2nd reading of the codecision procedure, subject to a few
amendments. While agreeing that that side-facing seats should not be allowed
in small buses and coaches, MEPs said that this prohibition should not extend
to coaches in vehicle category M3 (class III or B) of a technically
permissible maximum laden weight exceeding 10 tonnes in which side-facing
seats are grouped together at the rear of the vehicle to form an integrated
saloon of up to 10 seats. However, they specified that side-facing seats
in such buses should at least be fitted with a head-restraint and a
two-point belt with retractor. The exemption should have effect for 5 years
following adoption of the directive, with the possibility of being extended
if reliable accident statistics were available and there had been further
development of safety belt systems.
The committee also inserted a new Article 5a aimed at
ensuring that Member States could not grant certain exemptions providing
loopholes which could undermine the purpose of the directive.