Green light for safer tunnels

MEPs on Tuesday backed new laws designed to boost the safety of European road tunnels.

The report by centre-right MEP Reinhard Rack was adopted without amendments by a full house of MEPs in Strasbourg.

Under the proposals new standards which include minimum safety requirements for emergency exits, walkway, tunnel management and access for emergency services, would affect existing and future tunnels on the trans-European network.

The protection of road users would be improved in tunnels longer than 500 metres, whether they are in operation, under construction or at the design stage.

Brussels aims to prevent serious accidents - particularly in Italian/French trans-alpine tunnels- and reduce their possible consequences.

It follows the Mont Blanc tunnel fire in 1999 which claimed 36 lives and the Gothard tunnel accident in 2001 which resulted in 11 deaths.

The 512 tunnels affected by the new laws are mostly in Austria and Italy.

By 2010, 64 tunnels in Austria must comply with the rules and 246 in Italy. There are 55 in Germany and 35 in France.

The proposals must now be approved by national governments before they can become law.

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