This document outlines the measures that could be taken by governments to reach the ECMT's target of reducing road fatalities in Member states by 50% in the period 2000-2012. It is based on the work of the Road Safety Policy Group, takes into account advice from Member countries on progress towards their targets, and builds on the findings of Joint Transport Research Centre projects on Achieving Ambitious Road Safety Targets, Speed Management, and Young Driver Risks and Effective Countermeasures. Since its creation in 1953, the ECMT has worked intensively not only to define political orientations in the field of Road Safety, but also to develop, promote and facilitate the implementation of measures improving safety on the roads. Its work has focussed on concrete topics, such as seatbelt wearing, drink driving, speed limitation and its enforcement, ways to influence human behaviour, and advertising that conflicts with road safety, as well as on specific target groups, such as cyclists, children, older people, young drivers and pedestrians. In 2002, at their Council in Bucharest, ECMT Ministers reaffirmed their will to combat death on the road, and agreed on the objective noted above. Although there have been favourable developments and substantial improvements in road safety in many Member States, the total reductions to date across ECMT Member countries are less than needed. If current trends prevail, the overall 50% reduction target by 2012 is unreachable. Indeed, the target translates into saving an additional 50 000 lives per year until 2012. (Author/publisher)
Abstract