Road safety: European Parliament says more action needed

Creation date: 25 January 2007

In a report produced in response to the Commission's mid-term review of the EU Road Safety Action Programme, the European Parliament is calling for "a higher level of political commitment" to road safety in all Member States and EU institutions.

More than 40,000 deaths are caused by road traffic accidents in the European Union, the direct and indirect costs of which are estimated at €180 billion, or 2% of EU GDP.  Moreover, the disparity between different Member States' road safety records is widening.  
 
The European Parliament report, drawn up by Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (PES, SE) voices disappointment at the lack of progress in reaching the target of halving the number of road fatalities in the EU by 2010. It urges Member States to enforce existing legislation, which MEPs say would greatly improve road safety if it were fully observed by road users.
 
Included in the list of recommendations:
 
- more attention should be devoted to promoting technologies such as seat belt reminders and advanced restraint systems, Electronic Stability Control, speed limitation systems, alcohol interlocks, predictive safety systems and the eCall system, which could reduce accident response times considerably
 
 - the Commission and Member States should promote "awareness of the single European emergency call number 112".

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/062-1938-015-01-03-910-20070112IPR01913-15-01-2007-2007-false/default_en.htm