The Commission launched a first action programme on road safety (COM (93) 246) in 1993. Whilst the programme has made an important contribution to reducing the number of victims from road accidents, the social costs of road accidents are currently evaluated at some 145 billion ECU per year in the European Union. The Commission, therefore, proposes a new strategy - Road Safety 1997-2001 - to accelerate improvements in road safety. This strategy is based on the principle that the high costs of accidents (which can be roughly estimated at 1 million ECU for every Fatality) should be fully taken into account in the safety policies of Member States. The Community cannot, accomplish improvements in road safety on its own and therefore, proposes a more widespread use of the cost benefit approach (CBA) to road safety at all levels of policy making. The Commission believes that adoption of a three pronged strategy will lead to a progressive reduction in the number of annual road fatalities of up to at least 18,000 persons by the year 2010. It comprises: (1) Gathering and dissemination of information and best practice, notably through the setting up of an EU road safety information system; (2) Accident avoidance measures; and (3) Tools to reduce the consequences of accidents when they occur. In conjunction with measures to be taken by Member States and regional authorities in accordance with the cost-benefit approach, the proposed actions at the Community level would represent important social benefits, enhance the sustainability of the transport system and strengthen European competitiveness. Key provisions and summary of the EU road safety programme 1997-2001 is given in a table in Annex III.
Samenvatting