Third of EU road tunnels fail safety test

Austrian MEP Reinhard Rack has expressed concern overthe “disastrous” safety standards in some of Europe’s roadtunnels.

A study of 31 tunnels in 11 countries found that every third tunnelfailed to make the grade.

Countries with the worst records were Norway and Italy, accordingto the survey by EuroTap, the European Tunnel AssessmentProgramme.

In Norway, all three of the tunnels tested were rated “very poor”while three of the five tunnels tested in Italy were similarlyrated.

Tunnels in Belgium, Spain and Germany also scored poorly in whatEuroTap say were the worst results in five years with safetystandards in Norway branded as “disastrous.”

Commenting on the findings, Austrian EPP-ED deputy Reinhard Racksaid, “The Tunnel Safety Directive was adopted in 2004 and,remarkably, public authorities and operators still fail to fulfilour recommendations towards the improvement of tunnel safetydisparities across Europe.”

Four years ago, Rack drafted parliament's report on the now adopteddirective on minimum standards for tunnel safety. The legislationis due to be fully effective by 2014 for most member states.

He said that despite the bad publicity Norway has received in thepast for its tunnels, it appears its authorities are not taking theissue seriously.

EuroTap, however, says that it’s not all bad news.

“This year did see positive ratings in Austria and Switzerlandwhere all of the nine tunnels tested received positive ratings,”said a spokesman.

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