n in Geneva from
28 September to 1 October 1999 under the chairmanship of Mr. J. Busstra (Netherlands). Representatives
of the following ECE member States participated: Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Bulgaria; Czech Republic;
Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Hungary; Israel; Italy; Latvia; Luxembourg;
Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland;
Turkey and Ukraine. The World Bank Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) participated. The
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) also participated. The following
non-governmental organizations were also represented: Confédération Internationale dExperts et Conseils
(CIDADEC); European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR); International Federation of
Motorcyclists (IFM); International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC);
International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA); International Road Transport Union (IRU);
International Road Federation (IRF); International Road Safety (PRI); and International Touring
Alliance/International Automobile Federation (AIT & FIA). The following non-governmental organization
not in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council was invited to participate at
the thirty-third session: Cochrane Injuries Group (CIG).
GE.99-
OPENING OF THE SESSION TRANS/WP.1/67
page 2
2.
The Chief of the Technology Section of the ECE Transport Division, Mr. Jan Jerie,
opened the session on behalf of the Director of the Division by highlighting the priority issues which the
Working Party would be discussing at its thirty-third session.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Documentation: TRANS/WP.1/66.
3.
The Working Party adopted the provisional agenda prepared by the secretariat.
AMENDMENTS TO AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1968 CONVENTIONS ON ROAD
TRAFFIC AND ON ROAD SIGNS AND SIGNALS AND THE 1971 EUROPEAN
AGREEMENTS SUPPLEMENTING THEM
(a)
Questionnaire on the implementation of the Vienna Conventions and the 1971 European
Agreements supplementing them
Documentation: TRANS/WP.1/1998/18 and Adds.1 and 2; TRANS/WP.1/65; TRANS/WP.1/1999/2.
4.
The Working Party examined the responses to the questionnaire contained in documents
TRANS/WP.1/1999/18 and Adds.1 and 2. Noting that only 15 responses had been received so far (from
Belarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the IRU), the Working Party
invited countries which had not yet answered the questionnaire to do so, so that the Working Party could
have a broader picture of the position of Governments on this subject.
5.
The Working Party also discussed the possibility of establishing in the future a small expert group to
review proposals to amend the Vienna Conventions and the European Agreements supplementing them.
6.
The Working Party decided to establish a small group (Israel, Netherlands, Russian
Federation under the chairmanship of Israel) to analyse and summarize the answers to the questionnaire
and to make proposals on how to proceed with the outcome.
(b)
Documents transmitted by the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT)
Documentation: TRANS/WP.1/1999/27; TRANS/WP.1/1999/4 and Adds. 1-3.
7.
Recalling its in-depth discussions at its thirty-second session, the Working Party decided to continue
to discuss this item based on a consolidated document prepared by the secretariat (TRANS/WP.1/1999/27)
which made the distinction between proposals to which the Working Party had already given its final
endorsement and those which had been only provisionally agreed. The Working Party decided to
reexamine proposals which had been provisionally agreed and decided as follows (text to be deleted is
shown in square brackets; new text is shown in bold): TRANS/WP.1/67
page 3
A.
CONVENTION ON ROAD TRAFFIC (CRT)
Article 1: Definitions
(Final endorsement) Insert new subparagraph (g bis) to read:
(g bis) Cycle lane means a part of a carriageway designated for cycles. A cycle lane is
distinguished from the rest of the carriageway by longitudinal road markings according to Article 26
bis of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals. The marking of a cycle lane may be
supplemented, but not replaced, by road signs. Other markings (e.g. the cycle symbol) may be
added. Domestic legislation shall specify under what conditions other [vehicles] road users may
use the cycle lane or cross it, maintaining cyclists safety at all times.
(Final endorsement) Insert new paragraph (g ter) to read:
(g ter) Cycle track means an independent road or part of a road [intended] designated for cycles,
signposted as such. A cycle track is separated from other roads or from other parts of the same
road by [physical] structural means. A cycle track may be reserved for cyclists alone or for
cyclists and other road users in accordance with annex 1 section D in the Convention on Road
Signs and Signals.
Article 11: Overtaking and movement of traffic in lines
(Final endorsement) Insert a new subparagraph 11.1 (c) to read:
(c) Domestic legislation may authorize cyclists and moped riders to pass stationary vehicles or
[slow-moving traffic] vehicles moving at a low speed on the side which corresponds to the
direction of the traffic provided that sufficient space is available.
Article 21: Behaviour of drivers towards pedestrians
(Final endorsement) Insert new Article 21 bis to read:
Article 21 bis
Behaviour of motor-vehicle drivers towards cyclists and
two-wheeled moped riders
Without prejudice to Articles 11 and 12 of this Convention, drivers of motor vehicles shall leave a
sufficient safety gap between their vehicle and the cycle or two-wheeled moped which they are overtaking
or passing in the opposite direction. When passing a[n oncoming two-wheeler] cycle or two-wheeled
moped, drivers of motor vehicles shall slow down if specific circumstances prevent their leaving a
sufficient safety gap between their vehicle and the cycle or two-wheeled moped; if necessary, drivers shall
stop. TRANS/WP.1/67
page 4
Article 23: Standing and parking
(Final endorsement) Amend the last sentence of Article 23.1 to read:
"In and outside built-up areas they shall not be stationed on cycle tracks, cycle lanes, tracks for
horseback riders, footpaths, pavements or other areas specially provided for non-vehicular traffic,
save where applicable domestic legislation so permits."
(Final endorsement) Amend 23.6 to read:
6.
Nothing in this Article shall be construed as preventing Contracting Parties or subdivisions
thereof from introducing other provisions on parking and standing or from making individual
provisions for the standing and parking of bicycles and two-wheeled mopeds."
Article 27: Special rules applicable to cyclists, moped drivers and motor cyclists
(Final endorsement) Amend Article 27.4 to read:
Where cycle lanes exist, Contracting Parties or subdivisions thereof may forbid cyclists to use the
rest of the carriageway. In the same circumstances they may authorise moped drivers to use the
cycle lane and, if they consider it advisable, prohibit them from using the rest of the carriageway.
B.
EUROPEAN AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENTING THE CONVENTION ON
ROAD TRAFFIC
Annex paragraph 20 (Ad Article 27 of the Convention)
(Final endorsement) Amend the text relating to paragraph 4 to read:
Moped drivers may be authorised to use the cycle lane and, if considered advisable, be prohibited
from using the rest of the carriageway.
C.
CONVENTION ON ROAD SIGNS AND SIGNALS
Article 1: Definitions
(Final endorsement) Insert new subparagraph (e bis) to read:
(e bis) Cycle lane means a part of a carriageway designated for cycles. A cycle lane is
distinguished from the rest of the carriageway by longitudinal road markings according to Article
26 bis of [the Convention on Road Signs and Signals] this Convention. The marking of a cycle
lane may be supplemented, but not replaced, by road signs. Other markings (e.g. the cycle
symbol) may be added. Domestic legislation shall specify under what conditions other [vehicles]
road users may use the cycle lane or cross it, maintaining cyclists safety at all times.
(Final endorsement) Insert new paragraph (e ter) to read:
(e ter) Cycle track means an independent road or part of a road [intended] designated for
cycles, signposted as such. A cycle track is separated from other roads or from other parts of the TRANS/WP.1/67
page 5
same road by [physical] structural means. A cycle track may be reserved for cyclists alone or for
cyclists and other road users in accordance with annex 1 section D in [the Convention on Road
Signs and Signals] this Convention.
8.
The representative of Italy expressed the reservation of his Government to the proposal to insert a
new subparagraph 1.12 (f) in the Consolidated Resolution on Road Signs and Signals (R.E.2) regarding
contraflow cycle traffic.
9.
Russian-speaking delegates of the Working Party agreed on revisions to the Russian text of the
definitions and requested the secretariat to ensure that they were taken into account by the translators in
the preparation of the final report.
10.
The Working Party decided that the most effective way of proceeding would be to send a
substantial package of amendment proposals to the Secretary-General. With this in mind, it requested the
secretariat to prepare a consolidated document of all the finally endorsed proposals from the thirty-second
and thirty-third sessions and decided to convene an ad hoc working group of legal experts on the Vienna
Co