The Commission's Transport policy White Paper published on 12 September 2001 stressed that, given the growing volume of traffic, safety aspects are particularly important. While transport is regarded as part and parcel of economic growth and prosperity, it is increasingly being perceived as a potential hazard. Dramatic accidents are increasingly affecting the general public. However, the degree of acceptance of unsafe transport is not always consistent. Otherwise, how can one explain the comparative tolerance of road traffic accidents when, day in day out, the total number of people killed on European roads is more or less equivalent to the number of casualties when a medium-haul plane crashes? Every year, the equivalent of the population of an average-sized town such as Biarritz perishes. Road casualties, whether dead or injured, represent a cost to society amounting to tens of billions of euros and an incalculable human cost. The White Paper's subtitle was "Time to decide". The Commission takes the view that the time has now come as far as road safety is concerned. (Author/publisher). See also C 25510.
Samenvatting