UNUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Press Releases 2000

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Press Release ECE/TRANS/00/7
Geneva, 10 July 2000

 

 EXPERTS ON SAFETY IN TUNNELS MEET IN GENEVA

 

Following last year’s tragic accidents in the Mont Blanc and Tauern tunnels a UN/ECE1/ Ad Hoc Multidisciplinary Group of Experts on Safety in Tunnels has been created and will meet for the first time in Geneva on 10 and 11 July 2000.

The Ad hoc Group is expected to prepare a set of internationally agreed recommendations aimed at reducing the risk of traffic accidents in European tunnels and minimizing the consequences of such accidents in case they occur.

Given the multiplicity of factors which may be involved in tunnel accidents, i.e. the infrastructure, signs and signals, traffic rules, vehicles, drivers' behaviour, tunnel operation, emergency measures, transport of dangerous goods, etc., the Ad hoc Group is composed of UN/ECE Government experts in those areas. Experts from non-governmental organizations concerned will also participate in the work of the Ad hoc Group.

The recommendations of the Ad hoc Multidisciplinary Group of Experts will subsequently be examined by the UN/ECE Inland Transport Committee with a view to identifying those which could be made legally binding through their introduction in the various UN/ECE Agreements and Conventions concerned.

Many European Governments have expressed their interest in the work of the Multidisciplinary Group, including countries where large numbers of tunnels are in operation, such as Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, and where safety in tunnels has become a major concern.

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1/ The UN/ECE is the Geneva based European branch of the United Nations. Its membership comprises all European countries, the United States of America, Canada, Israel and the Republics of the Caucasus and Central Asia.

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For any further information regarding this Meeting you may contact:

José Capel Ferrer, Director, or
Jerzy Witkowski, Economic Affairs Officer
Transport Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Telephone: (+41-22) 917 2400 or 917 3259
Fax:        (+41-22) 907 0039
E-mail: [email protected]
            [email protected]

 

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Thank you.