EC to support 13 European road safety projects for €8.1 million

Creation date: 24 January 2007

In line with its strategy to halve the number of road fatalities by 2010, the European Commission has decided to support 13 European road safety projects with a total subsidy of €8.1 million. This is the outcome of the Open Call for Subventions for Road Safety, launched on 21 June 2006.

Within the Road Safety Call 2006, 29 projects were submitted for funding, requesting a total subsidy of €27 million. The 13 selected projects cover all themes described in the call: five projects deal with training and education, four projects concern road safety campaigns and another four are related to control and enforcement. The 13 projects will benefit a total of 65 companies and associations from 19 Member States.

The Commission notes that all projects funded must demonstrate strong European added value, have an innovative character and feature a multiplier effect. It is also important that they show a good cost-benefit ratio and provide for high visibility. Finally, the work and financing plan and a proper methodology are assessed.

It is now entering into contract negotiations with the co-ordinators of the selected projects, in order for implementation to get underway in early 2007. The maximum amount granted is up to 50% of eligible costs.

The project, brief description, coordinator and its coordinator are listed below:

• Enforcement net: Enforcement net  - CORTE, Belgium 
• RoSaCe: Road Safety Cities: Change Education in Europe - P.A.U. Education, Spain
• Module Close To: General Preventive Teaching MODULE CLOSE-TO - FGM-AMOR, Austria
• MoU 561/2006: Memorandum of understanding on the Drivers' Hours' rules – CORTE, Belgium
• HERMES: Enhancing the safety of novice drivers through more effective driver training -  Institut Gute Fahrt, Austria
• BeSAFETY-AWARE: Bringing eSafety to the Market Through Awareness - FIA Foundation, UK
• ENWA: European Night Without Accident – RYD, Belgium
• SMART Digitac: Support, Maintain and Improve Digital Tachograph - Swedish Road Administration, Sweden
• Vco: "Clean" parties; prevent use of drugs linked to driving - Voiture & Co, France
• Veronica 2: Vehicle event recording based on intelligent crash assessment - Siemens VDO, Germany
• Euro-Audits: European Road Safety Auditor Training Syllabus – ERF, Belgium
• EUCHIRES 2007: European public awareness campaign on the use of seat belts and child restraint systems – IBSR, Belgium 
• ERSC 4: 4th European Red Cross Road Safety Campaign - Red Cross / European Union Office, Belgium 

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