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EC outlines long-term policy on the automotive sector.....

Increasing road safety

Over the last 30 years traffic on European roads has tripled, while the number of casualties has halved during the same period. Latest estimates show that about 41,600 people were killed on European roads in 2005. The Commission’s stated aim is to achieve a 50% reduction in deaths on European roads by 2010.

The Communication proposes a number of vehicle-related actions with the inclusion of Electronic Stability Control and of Isofix child restraint systems obligatory in new vehicles being the most significant. Besides the Commission’s legislative proposals for the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles with the aim of avoiding blind spots, the Commission intends to:

- Make the use of daytime running lights and seat-belt reminders obligatory

- Investigate the costs, benefits and feasibility of introducing Emergency Braking Systems in vehicles (particularly heavy-duty vehicles)

- Continue efforts to promote the development of active in-vehicle safety systems in the framework of the i2020 Intelligent Car Initiative

- Adopt the 3rd ‘eSafety’ Communication aiming at full deployment of the automated emergency service call-out scheme eCall, starting from 2010

- Call on Member States to further improve the enforcement of bans on drunk driving, enforcement of speed limits, enforcement of motorcycle helmet use and to promote and enforce seat belt use.