UNITED

NATIONS

Distr.
GENERAL

TRANS/WP.1/2000/13

21 January 2000

Original: ENGLISH

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE

INLAND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

Working Party on Road Traffic Safety

(Thirty-fourth session, 4-7 April 2000,

agenda item 7 (b))

COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION

Exchange of experiences in the field of road safety

Transmitted by the Government of Romania

Romania wishes to inform the Working Party about modifications in the Regulation for the application of Decree No. 328/1966 regarding traffic on public roads, established by Government Decision No. 890/1998, valid as of 15 March 1999.

These modifications are as follows:

1.	Institutions and their medical staff which observe at any time that a person who holds a valid driving licence is medically unfit to drive a car or suffers from a medical disability which is incompatible with the requirements of driving, must communicate this information immediately to the Traffic Police Service in the locality where that person lives.

2.	Legal responsibility has been established for administrators of public roads and road works, when a traffic accident occurs due to the improper technical condition of the road, and inadequate signing of obstacles or road works.

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3.	The position of vehicles on the road has been settled in accordance with the Convention on Road Traffic. The way in which a multi-lane road must be used even in the case of absence of special signing or road markings has been specified.

4.	A new rule has been introduced in order to facilitate regular public transport services (buses, trolleybuses), which provides that "the road user driving in the same direction as a regular public transport vehicle must reduce speed in the vicinity of a bus station and, if necessary, must stop, allowing the public vehicle to leave the station."

5.	The railway crossing warning system has been completed with a white light lamp situated on top of the installation. This light shows when the red lights are off and confirms that the system is in a "state" of watching which allows vehicles to pass without stopping.

6.	Prohibition for drivers from consuming narcotics or medication with similar effects, also to drive in a state of sickness, wounded or in an advanced state of tiredness, which may endanger road safety.

7.	Prohibition from using mobile phones while driving except the "hands-free" type.

8.	The reconsideration of maximum legal speed limits inside and outside built-up areas. The new limit inside a built-up area is a maximum of 50 km/h. On certain roads, by Police approval, the road administration may establish specific speed limits, valid only for cars, which, however, may not exceed 80 km/h. Outside built-up areas, the speed limit is dependent on the type of vehicle and the kind of road. On highways, the speed limit is 120 km/h.

9.	The mandatory wearing of seat belts in and outside built-up areas.

10.	The withdrawal of registration of vehicles or trailers registered in other countries in the case when the owner lives or decides to establish residence in Romania and has not reregistered their vehicle in due time.

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