§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what obstacles in European law would prevent the introduction in the United Kingdom of a ban on the use and manufacture of bull bars; [17252]
(2) what plans he has to introduce a ban on the use of bull bars on the fronts of road vehicles; [17251]
(3) what is his most recent assessment of the numbers of additional road fatalities and serious injuries that are likely in the next two years as a result of collisions involving cars fitted with front bull bars. [17253]
§ Mr. NorrisWe would expect to be in a position to take powers at a national level to ban the fitment of bull bars as aftermarket accessories. However, certain vehicle models with bull bars fitted as original equipment have received European whole vehicle type approval and no EU member state can prevent the free circulation and use of a vehicle so approved.
The Transport Research Laboratory has estimated that an extra 35 deaths and 350 serious injuries to vulnerable road users could result from collisions with vehicles fitted with bull bars. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Gentleman on the 31 January 1995, Official Report, column 586, we have taken steps to identify specific injury accidents involving bull bars to determine the effects of bull bars in practice. It would be premature to propose legislative action until the results of this exercise are analysed, which should be towards the end of this year.