Dropped: Repeal International Road Safety

[Scalietti]

Repeal: #83 Internatioal Road Safety Will be struck out rendering null and void.

Acknowledging: The need for globalized standards for road safety througout all WA member nations.

Considering: Resolution #83 is applicable only to international commercial vehicles, which when compared to other passenger vehicles, are rarely involved in accidents and are subject to a far lower mortality rate than other passenger vehicles which are not covered by this resolution.

Noting: Resolution #83 also limits its effectiveness to international roads, which remain undefined. Furthermore, there is no legislation dictating the level of quality a road must adhere to yet there is legislation dictating the level of quality tunnels and bridges along an international road must adhere to.

Further Noting: The resolution does not define standards which vehicles and roads must adhere to.

Concluding that this resolution provides little gains for extensive cost and micromanaging at the expense of WA member nations.

Alarmed: That Resolution #83 prevents nations from enforcing their own laws within their own borders with regards to road safety.

Understanding that with a repeal of this resolution, its issues could be fixed and brought back into effect.

Hereby Repeals resolution #83

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International Road Safety
A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.

Category: Free Trade
Strength: Mild
Proposed by: New Rockport

Description: The World Assembly,

AWARE that commercial road vehicles carry cargo and passengers across international borders;

CONCERNED for the safety of operators and passengers of commercial road vehicles that travel internationally, along with those who share the roads with them; and

FURTHER CONCERNED that accidents involving commercial road vehicles can cause an extreme hazard to the safety of the passengers, operators, and cargoes of all road vehicles involved in the accidents, especially considering the relatively large size and weight of most commercial vehicles and their cargoes;

HEREBY

DEFINES "international commercial road vehicle" as a conveyance including and not limited to a truck, a trailer, or a motor coach, that
(a) is driven over public highways across one or more internationally recognized borders between member states, has a point of origin and a destination in two different member states, or both, and
(b) is used to transport freight or is used to transport ten or more passengers or both;

AUTHORIZES the International Transport Safety Committee to promulgate regulations related to the safety of international commercial road vehicles;

FURTHER AUTHORIZES the International Transport Safety Committee to promulgate training and competency standards for individuals who operate or maintain international commercial road vehicles;

FURTHER AUTHORIZES the International Transport Safety Committee to promulgate regulations related to the safety of roads and related infrastructure at points where roads cross international borders at which one or more member states operate customs, immigration, or other border checkpoints;

FURTHER AUTHORIZES the International Transport Safety Committee to recommend safety standards for domestic roads and related infrastructure;

REQUIRES the International Transport Safety Committee to assure that compliance with regulations promulgated pursuant to this resolution is feasible and that the costs of compliance with said regulations are justified by the benefits that result from them;

FURTHER REQUIRES the International Transport Safety Committee to assure that regulations promulgated pursuant to this resolution result in reasonable improvements to traffic safety;

REQUIRES owners of international commercial road vehicles to assure that their vehicles meet ITSC safety standards;

REQUIRES individuals who operate or maintain international commercial road vehicles to meet ITSC training and competency standards;

REQUIRES owners of bridges and tunnels that cross internationally recognized borders to assure that said bridges and tunnels meet ITSC standards;

REQUIRES governments that operate customs, immigration, or other border checkpoints to assure that signage, roads, gates, customs plazas, sidewalks, curbs, and streetlamps at those checkpoints meet ITSC standards;

STRONGLY URGES governments in member states to assure that their domestic roads and related infrastructure meet or exceed ITSC standards; and

PROHIBITS governments in member states from requiring international commercial road vehicles and operators from other member states to meet higher safety standards than those required by the ITSC, unless those higher safety standards also apply to domestic motor carriers.

Votes For: 3,212
Votes Against: 2,996

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[New Buckner]

Honored Delegate from Scalietti.

I would be more willing to appease this if i had some idea of what you intend to offer in it's place. Provide us with the details or at least a framework of what you are thinking of to make it a stronger resolution and I will see about providing New Buckner's support to it.

[Scalietti]

I have prepared a rough draft of a possible replacement resolution. It is far from perfect, but does seek to address many areas that Resolution #83 does not.

[Kryozerkia]

Possible replacement resolution:

Noting: Road trauma is one of the greatest causes of the loss of human life throughout the world. Many of the victims leave behind families and friends who are all affected through the loss.

Acknowledging: The need for globalized standards for road safety througout all WA member nations.

Seeking: to reduce this horrific cost of life in any way, shape or form.

Defining
- A road as a "a line of communication (travelled way) using a stabilized base other than rails or air strips open to public traffic, primarily for the use of road motor vehicles running on their own wheels."
- A motor vehicle as "a vehicle whose propulsion is provided by an engine or motor."

Forming the International Road Transport Safety Bureau, which will define and maintain standards applicable to all new cars produced and sold within a member nation, and which all major thoroughfares and their adjoining tunnels, bridges, crossings, junctions and supporting structures must adhere to.

RequiresThat within five years of the passing of the resolution

• All new motor vehicles must be in compliance with a Euro NCAP rating of four stars, applicable to the vehicles category (ie. MPV, small car, pickup).
  
• All new vehicles must be fitted with Anti-Lock Brakes, Electronic Stability Control and Traction control.
• All passenger and commercial vehicles must provide every passenger with a lap-sash seat belt.

Prohibits the sale of motor vehicles that do not meet the above requirements.

Further Requires All major thoroughfares for motor vehicles to meet set standards in terms of run-off areas, visibility, surface quality and emergency lanes.

Encourages Governments of nations to assist in the reduction of the road toll by

• Increasing public awareness about the dangers of Driving Under Influence, Speeding etc.
• Increasing policing on roads to aid the process of bringing dangerous drivers to justice.
• Ensuring all roads, junctions, railway crossings, bridges, tunnels etc. are of an acceptable level of quality.

The repeal didn't have any immediately apparent flaws (though I am a little groggy still), but the possible replacement has one which is easy enough to fix. The first line should not have the phrase "human life", since it is reasonable to expect that not all nations in the WA are controlled by humans.

[Philimbesi]

The original has a passable amount of micromanaging and we certainly can't support replacing it with a more micro-managing, costlier, resolution.

[Enn]

The original, which my predecessor supported strongly, was strictly limited to international roads for a reason. They are international. They cross borders, so what happens on one side of a border affects the other in turn. In my opinion, your proposed replacement goes far too far in dictating road rules, and micromanaging what should be national or sub-national policies.

Angelo Lanerik,
Acting WA Ambassador for Enn

[Grays Harbor]

The original has a passable amount of micromanaging and we certainly can't support replacing it with a more micro-managing, costlier, resolution.

We must agree with our colleague from Philimbesi. The Int Road Safety Resoltution addresses those issue which can and do have an international position. The proposed replacement strays too far into micro-management of what should be issues left to the individual nations to determine.

The repeal is pointless and the possible replacement, which we could not ever support in its current form, is too intrusive.

[Embolalia]

Possible replacement resolution:

Noting: Road trauma is one of the greatest causes of the loss of human life throughout the world. Many of the victims leave behind families and friends who are all affected through the loss.

Acknowledging: The need for globalized standards for road safety througout all WA member nations.

Seeking: to reduce this horrific cost of life in any way, shape or form.

Good so far

Defining
- A road as a "a line of communication (travelled way) using a stabilized base other than rails or air strips open to public traffic, primarily for the use of road motor vehicles running on their own wheels."

There has to be a simpler definition of road.

- A motor vehicle as "a vehicle whose propulsion is provided by an engine or motor."

Seriously?

Forming the International Road Transport Safety Bureau, which will define and maintain standards applicable to all new cars produced and sold within a member nation, and which all major thoroughfares and their adjoining tunnels, bridges, crossings, junctions and supporting structures must adhere to.

Micromanaging a little too much, but I'll let it slide for now.

RequiresThat within five years of the passing of the resolution

• All new motor vehicles must be in compliance with a Euro NCAP rating of four stars, applicable to the vehicles category (ie. MPV, small car, pickup).

Euro what? Remove the RL reference, or it's illegal.

All new vehicles must be fitted with Anti-Lock Brakes, Electronic Stability Control and Traction control.

All passenger and commercial vehicles must provide every passenger with a lap-sash seat belt.

Big problem here. Not only am I pretty sure the specific reference to ESC, ABS, and traction control is a tech violation (think of 1920s-era nations), but all passenger and commercial vehicles? It's pretty standard practice in Embolalia (and IRL) not to put seat belts in city busses, since people won't wear them anyway. (Plus, since you don't specify road vehicles, that leaves it vague as to trains and planes) {Oh, and I'm pretty sure the {list} tag doesn't work in proposals} Waaaayyyy too much micromanaging there.

Prohibits the sale of motor vehicles that do not meet the above requirements.

Okay

Further Requires All major thoroughfares for motor vehicles to meet set standards in terms of run-off areas, visibility, surface quality and emergency lanes.

Set by whom, what defines major, and are you going to bother mentioning design speed, which is arguably the easiest way to collectively talk about road condition?

Encourages Governments of nations to assist in the reduction of the road toll by

• Increasing public awareness about the dangers of Driving Under Influence, Speeding etc.
• Increasing policing on roads to aid the process of bringing dangerous drivers to justice.
• Ensuring all roads, junctions, railway crossings, bridges, tunnels etc. are of an acceptable level of quality.

Wonderful, more policing. Oh, and what about places where there is no speed limit? This is encourages, so it doesn't really matter, but still.

If you come up with a good replacement, I'll consider it. Until then, it's a nice firm "no".

[Scalietti]

The resolution (for those who read it properly) does not dictate any new road rules for nations to follow, nor does it dictate nations to create a blanket speed limit for their roads. Instead, it encourages nations to ensure their roads and road users are reasonably safe on any road they travel.

The only main restrictions are placed on the actual vehicles themselves and major thouroughfares, which I would classify highways, freeways, tollways, etc. under.

Euro NCAP will be replaced by a different acronym, however using the basic principles.

The intra-city buses will be exempt from seatbelt restrictions.

Trains and planes are exempt from the seatbelt restriction because they do not run along a road, obviously.

With regards to design speed, it will not be mentioned as that would involve dictating speed limits to nations, something this resolution will not do. Instead, this resolution wishes to ensure that all major highways, freeways etc. have a suitable run-off area, adequate visability and an adequate surface.

[New Buckner]

I'am going to have to agree with my fellow delegates on this one. The proposed bill doesn't bring enough to the table to make it worth repealing what is already in place. While I don't agree that the current resolution is as strong as it should be, what you have suggested just doesn't cut what we are looking for in a resolution on this matter.

[Hindopia]

To the author of this proposal:

My predecessor and my government supported the WA Resolution in question as it was necessary to ensure international roadways were safe for international travel. What you are proposing is a repeal of this good, balanced resolution in favor of micromanagement, an idea my government and I oppose. What really got me was this clause "Considering: The previous resolution does not go far enough to dictate proper safety standards and should also focus on the levels of road trauma inside a nations borders, rather than limiting its effectiveness to international commercial road vehicles."

The WA is supposed to focus on matters of international importance. Do you suggest the WA/GA become involved in every corner street in Hindopia, assessing their safety and ensuring they are kept up to standard? Micromanagement is opposed by Hindopia, and if this draft ever comes to vote I will do everything in my power to ensure it's failure.

Ambassador James Vargas, for Hindopia

[Embolalia]

... nor does it dictate nations to create a blanket speed limit for their roads...

Didn't say it did. It wants us to teach about the dangers of speeding. No speed limit, no speeding.

Did you actually read the criticisms in my last post? You didn't change the overly verbose definitions of "road" and "motor vehicle". (The reason I said "seriously?" to the latter is that we really don't need to define a motor vehicle as a vehicle with a motor.) You didn't define "major thoroughfare". You only changed the name of the safety board, but didn't give us any definition of how it will come to its four star rating, or even what those four stars are out of. You picked an arbitrary date (which still may not be applicable to nations on different timelines from yours; for example, a nation in the past that was very advanced, a nation on another planet that has never contacted earth, alternate histories where such technologies were developed earlier or later, and so on.) for when you will begin your micromanagement of the technologies included in vehicles. When I said you should get rid of that, I meant all together. Lastly, something I didn't notice before:
"Prohibits the sale of motor vehicles that do not meet the above requirements."
That basically prohibits used and classic cars. I hope you're hearing me well when I say: No. No, no, no. Also, I hope you haven't taken my criticisms as tacit support. I dislike this proposal, very strongly, and I think it would be best if you dropped it.

[Franca-Liria]

The original, which my predecessor supported strongly, was strictly limited to international roads for a reason. They are international. They cross borders, so what happens on one side of a border affects the other in turn. In my opinion, your proposed replacement goes far too far in dictating road rules, and micromanaging what should be national or sub-national policies.

Angelo Lanerik,
Acting WA Ambassador for Enn

I agree. The new resolution would require a massive WA task force to constantly be enforcing the mandated car safety regulations and road regulations. This task force would undeniably be paid for by the WA nations, especially those who comply with the regulations of their own accord. Also agreeing with the abovestated statement, this law would be impossible to enforce, as many nations in the WA simply will not submit themselves to an international regulatory commission that would superceed their own national law and enforcement.

Andre Riviere, Franca-Lirian Consul to the World Assembly

[Philimbesi]

It's none of the WA's business if the commuters in New Boston speed on their way to work. It's not even the Philimbesian government's business if they do it's a matter for local police to handle.

[The Ainocran Embassy]

I must agree, Road regulation in Ainocra is resolved at the local level by the people who actually use the roads in question.

[Aven Dale]

Just so the idea is clear,
no on the grounds of micro-managing. The WA is for international issues, please try to keep national ones to the nation is question.

Aven Dale

[Mikoyan-Guryevich]

Road trauma is one of the greatest causes of the loss of life throughout the world.

Road trauma may occur within a nation, however that does not mean it is limited to that nation in particular any more than genocide is. Road trauma is definitely an internation issue; nearly all nations use motor vehicles and roads, all nations that do have deaths as a result.

No, Scalietti's replacement is not perfect, but its hardly un-warranted.

[Scalietti]

Can we please stick to the resolution that is being drafted, which is the repeal.

I will not be putting up a new resolution, however I still wish to repeal #83 as it is completely ineffective and pointless.

[Aven Dale]

Road trauma is one of the greatest causes of the loss of life throughout the world.

Road trauma may occur within a nation, however that does not mean it is limited to that nation in particular any more than genocide is. Road trauma is definitely an internation issue; nearly all nations use motor vehicles and roads, all nations that do have deaths as a result.

No, Scalietti's replacement is not perfect, but its hardly un-warranted.

sure road trauma is bad, however Scalietti is proposing that we repeal the legislation on that it doesnt do its job well enough and since he is not going to offer a replacement, it seems conter productive seeing as how the old legislation is the only one that adresses the issue to any reasonable degree.

Also what exactly is road trauma. That seems to be at big theme revolving around this repeal and yet i dont see it being defined. Furthermore, just food for thought, what if a nation doesnt allow motor vehicles to the populace. That would lead the majority of the vehicles to be commercial.

And just for the record, is anybody confused on what an international road is? I sm under the impression that it is a road that extends between multiple nations. I just feel that the part about how it doesnt define an international road to be unnessecary, although im sure some will disagree with me.

[New Buckner]

Can we please stick to the resolution that is being drafted, which is the repeal.

I will not be putting up a new resolution, however I still wish to repeal #83 as it is completely ineffective and pointless.

The issues are connected dear sir. Why remove something if there isn't agreance that there is something wrong with it, and then if it is to be removed, at least some idea of what is suggested to take it's place.

[Mikoyan-Guryevich]

Road trauma is one of the greatest causes of the loss of life throughout the world.

Road trauma may occur within a nation, however that does not mean it is limited to that nation in particular any more than genocide is. Road trauma is definitely an internation issue; nearly all nations use motor vehicles and roads, all nations that do have deaths as a result.

No, Scalietti's replacement is not perfect, but its hardly un-warranted.

sure road trauma is bad, however Scalietti is proposing that we repeal the legislation on that it doesnt do its job well enough and since he is not going to offer a replacement, it seems conter productive seeing as how the old legislation is the only one that adresses the issue to any reasonable degree.

Also what exactly is road trauma. That seems to be at big theme revolving around this repeal and yet i dont see it being defined. Furthermore, just food for thought, what if a nation doesnt allow motor vehicles to the populace. That would lead the majority of the vehicles to be commercial.

And just for the record, is anybody confused on what an international road is? I sm under the impression that it is a road that extends between multiple nations. I just feel that the part about how it doesnt define an international road to be unnessecary, although im sure some will disagree with me.

My definition of road trauma = any injury or medical condition as direct or indirect result of an incident on a public road.

I would also agree with Scalietti that #83 is ridiculous, as it effects a tiny portion of road users who are rarely involved in accidents, for a seemingly large amount of micromanagement and increased cost. Not replacing it would be a good thing, the resolution is utterly ridiculous.

I am very confused as to what an international road is. Is it any road that connects to a border, or is it any road that connects to any road that crosses the border? If I travel in a car between two cities, and the road keeps going after my destination to another country, does that make the road I just travelled on an international road? Or is it any road in which a foreigner may or travel on?

[Philimbesi]

If you are not going to replace it, then pass laws in your own nation and keep out of the rest of our nations. There is nothing saying that you can't pass what you feel is effective legislation in your own nation. This resolution deals with international roadways only, which is the way it should be

Nigel S Youlkin
USP Ambassador the WA.

[The Ainocran Embassy]

I support a repeal. The legislation in question does have some pretty big flaws.

[Embolalia]

^^ Mind naming them?

Road trauma is one of the greatest causes of the loss of life throughout the world.

Road trauma may occur within a nation, however that does not mean it is limited to that nation in particular any more than genocide is. Road trauma is definitely an internation issue; nearly all nations use motor vehicles and roads, all nations that do have deaths as a result.

No, Scalietti's replacement is not perfect, but its hardly un-warranted.

Every nation has buildings, but that doesn't mean the WA needs to legislate the size of their beams. International doesn't mean multiple nations have the same issue discreetly, it means the same thing or event can affect multiple nations at the same time. (Or that an issue is such a drastic and horrific violation of human rights that we can not stand for it to happen) Domestic vehicle and road safety are not either. And I think comparing car crashes to genocide is a bit of an exaggeration, don't you?

Can we please stick to the resolution that is being drafted, which is the repeal.

I will not be putting up a new resolution, however I still wish to repeal #83 as it is completely ineffective and pointless.

You brought it up! And I, for one, do not have any intention of voting for a repeal unless someone, no matter who, can write a replacement that is better than the original.

[Hindopia]

Road trauma is one of the greatest causes of the loss of life throughout the world.

Road trauma may occur within a nation, however that does not mean it is limited to that nation in particular any more than genocide is. Road trauma is definitely an internation issue; nearly all nations use motor vehicles and roads, all nations that do have deaths as a result.

Where does the involvement of the WA end, then? Road trauma, unless it occurs on international, border-crossing roads, is a national issue.

Ambassador James Vargas, for Hindopia.