§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the speed and safety regulations applying to motor coaches on motorways in other member countries of the European Economic Community.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWithin the European Community, all motor vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, with more than eight seats excluding the driver's seat, are subject to the requirements of the roadworthiness directive (77/143 EEC), whose purpose is to harmonise arrangements for testing goods and passenger vehicles. Other safety regulations, including those setting out speed limits, are contained in the domestic legislation of the member States.
The legal speed limits for motor coaches on motorways are as follows:
mph (kph) Belgium 56 (90) Denmark 44 (70) France 56 (90) Federal Republic of Germany *62 (100) Greece 44 (70) Italy 50 (80) Ireland† — — Luxembourg 47 (75) The Netherlands 50 (80) United Kingdom 70 (112) * Speed limit for coaches meeting specified technical requirements (the "Tempo 100 Standard"). Older coaches not meeting this standard are limited to 50 mph (80 kph).
† There are no motorway standard roads in Ireland; the general speed limit for vehicles over 2 tons in weight is 40 mph (65 kph).