This report examines the safety of Europe’s trade routes. EU nations committed themselves to develop a trans-European road network with the “best possible” safety standard. For the first time, this survey records objectively whether “best possible” levels of safety are being achieved. Public, policymakers and professionals can all now share how quickly the responsible authorities are moving towards the “best possible” commitment. EuroRAP estimates that 20,000 deaths and serious injuries take place annually on the full TEN-T road network, at an estimated cost of €10 bn. In the 15 countries surveyed, less than a third of the network length achieves the “best possible” low risk rating based on death and serious injury rates. The most remarkable country in the survey is Slovenia with its newly engineered network which is now outperforming most others. The Czech Republic is making some progress and getting close to Belgium in performance but Poland, Slovakia and Bosnia & Herzegovina have major challenges. The survey shows that countries such as Italy and Spain struggle to achieve “best possible” ratings; the nations of the British Isles achieve markedly different safety standards, and Iceland’s network surprises. Many countries like Switzerland have problem sections long overdue for treatment. The top performing country in the survey is Sweden where 85% of the network length achieves the low risk rating. Sweden has pioneered new safe designs for roads which are not motorways and has committed to upgrade safety equipment on all significant single carriageways by 2025, providing the model for all countries where traffic is too light to upgrade major routes to motorway. (Author/publisher)
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