§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport in how many cases signals from taxi radios or mobile telephones have been implicated in road accidents through interference with car computers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeThe Department has no evidence of any road accidents that have resulted from electromagnetic interference—from whatever source—to electrical or electronic equipment fitted to vehicles.
There are already strict rules controlling the use of radio transmission and reception equipment on vehicles. There is a general European Community directive due to enter into force on 1 January 1992 that covers electromagnetic compatibility of all electrical and electronic equipment, both mobile and static.
We nevertheless need to ensure that, with the development of sophisticated electronic systems for vehicles, the satisfactory and safe operation of those systems will be maintained.
Draft proposals are now being formulated by the European vehicle industry for a Community directive intended specifically to cover electromagnetic compatibility of vehicles. This will set standards to control the emission of interference from vehicles and ensure their immunity to emissions from external sources. We support these proposals.