Another Road Safety Proposal for the EU

• March 24th, 2008
• Posted by Emma Cillekens

Last week (19.3.08) the EU adopted another proposal aimed at promoting safety on European roads.

It focuses on promoting equality of resident and non-resident drivers.

When implemented this scheme will augment the scope for authorities to identify drivers from European Union countries who’ve committed traffic offences in any of the Member States.

Currently an “inter-state” driver whose car is registered in another EU country may evade prosecution for driving offences — often because of problems establishing drivers’ identity.

The Commission’s stance is that this is “discriminatory” and “jeopardises road safety”.

The Vice-President of the Commission, Jacques Barrot, responsible for transport, believes the proposal is a step in the right direction.

“Road safety is everyone’s business and a priority for the Commission,” he said.

“In 2001 we set ourselves the goal of reducing by half the number of deaths on our roads over a ten-year period. If we are to reach this target, we need to make additional efforts now.”

This latest initiative is just one of many aiming to cut the road toll.

In 2003 the Commission tabled a European Road Safety Action Programme that aimed primarily to “encourage [road] users to behave better, make vehicles safer, and improve road infrastructure”.

Last year the Commission reviewed the plan saying considerable progress had been made.

“In 2005, there were 8000 fewer road deaths than in 2001… but not enough progress has been made and more effort will be needed, at national and European level, to achieve the objective of halving the number of road deaths by 2010″.

This year EU Commission will continue its annual “European road safety day”.

Last year was the first time the initiative ran, and it aims to “raise awareness, give visibility to best local practices and offer all those involved the opportunity to work towards more road safety in a truly European and global community”.

It is set for 13.10.08.
Reference:

European Commission. “More Safety on our Roads” http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/464&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en (19.3.08)

EC. “European Road Safety Day”. http://ec.europa.eu/transport/roadsafety/road_safety_days/index_2008_en.htm (2008)

EC. “Road Safety Action Program” http://ec.europa.eu/transport/roadsafety/road_safety_observatory/rsap_en.htm (2003)

EC. “Road Safety Action Program” EU Commission. “Road Safety: the Commission wants to save 20, 000 lives a year on EU roads” http://ec.europa.eu/transport/roadsafety_library/rsap/ip_2003_0797_en.pdf (2003)

EC. “Road Safety Action Program” EU Commission. “Road Safety: the Commission wants to save 20, 000 lives a year on EU roads” (2003)

EC. “Road Safety: we must do more: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/202&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en (22.2.06)

EC. Jacques Barrot, “Home Page” http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/barrot/index_en.htm (7.3.08)

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