News - Page 26
The European Court of Justice has ruled that the legal basis of the directive on cross-border enforcement of traffic offences, which came into force in November, was incorrect. In a case brought by the European Commission, the court said the correct legal basis should be transport. But, given the importance of the law for road safety, the ECJ said the current rules could stay in place while a new proposal is agreed. ETSC is calling on the EU to agree a new proposal as […]
Seat-belt reminder alerts in all car seats could save 900 lives a year Spain and Latvia make biggest progress in cutting car deaths Transport safety campaigners are calling on the European Union to accelerate progress on reducing the number of people killed in cars every year in the EU, as new research shows 12,345 car occupants were fatally injured in 2012. The report into trends in car occupant safety, published today by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), found that 900 lives could be […]
New dynamic speed bumps have been installed on the Oresund bridge between Sweden and Denmark that only activate when a car has been detected as speeding. The measure is designed to reduce the numbers of motorists who speed through the toll booths – some 200,000 a year, or 4% of cars using the bridge.
ETSC’s member the Belgian Road Safety Institute (BIVV-IBSR), has used a crowd-sourcing technique to aid the police in planning Belgium’s first speed enforcement ‘marathon’. Internet users were invited to send in speeding hotspots using a website with a map tool. 50,000 locations were suggested via the ‘I flash too’ website, a reference to the familiar sight of speed camera flashes. The crowd-sourcing element was added to the national enforcement marathon concept begun in Germany last year when 15,000 police officers checked 3 million cars, […]
The European Parliament has voted to support revised rules on the dimensions of heavy goods vehicles that will enable manufacturers to produce safer lorries. The legislation will allow for cabs with improved visibility, especially important for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas. Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said: “This legislation is a step forward because it will enable innovative new designs that include crumple zones along with better visibility and protection of car occupants, pedestrians […]
A comprehensive assessment of eight different driver support technologies shows that Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) would save the most lives. The research, by the Norwegian Institute for Transport Economics (TØI), and now published in English, found that the overall societal benefits of introducing the technology would outweigh the costs. Selective use for high-risk groups such as young drivers could be even more cost-effective, according to the study. ETSC says ‘assisting’ ISA, that warns drivers of speed limits and assists the driver to adapt to the […]
ETSC member, the Belgian Road Safety Institute (BIVV-IBSR) has launched a moving online campaign against speeding which has been viewed over 2 million times on YouTube. The video features six regular speeders invited to their own ‘funeral’ by a close friend or relative. Watch the video to see what happened next. Read the press release.
Two new surveys carried out in Switzerland and the UK have found that an overwhelming majority support 30km/h (20 mph) limits. ETSC’s Swiss member BfU carried out a survey in March that found 65% of people believed that 30 km/h zones would cut the risk of accidents. BPA says that 38% of the Swiss population already live in 30km/h zones. The UK road safety charity Brake, together with Allianz, an insurer, published findings of a similar survey in April. It found that 78% of […]
The number of people killed on Europe’s roads fell by 8% last year, following a 9% decrease between 2011 and 2012, provisional figures released by the European Commission show. Commenting on the announcement, Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said: We welcome the reduction in the number of road deaths in Europe last year. But the fact that more than 500 lives are still being lost every single week on our roads is a reminder that Europe needs to […]
The European Parliament’s transport committee has voted overwhelmingly in support of proposals to improve the safety of heavy goods vehicles. The revised rules on lorry dimensions will allow for cabs with improved visibility, especially important for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas. Welcoming the news, Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said: Europe is a global leader in vehicle safety. This vote brings us a step closer to bringing innovations on crumple zones, visibility and pedestrian […]
The European Parliament has backed EU plans for all new types of car and van to be fitted with automated emergency call devices (eCall). However, the Parliament backed away from a 2015 deadline for the introduction of the technology, pending discussions with EU member states. Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said: “This technology is all about saving lives by saving time. So politicians should waste no more precious months getting this system in place: the deadline of the […]
The European Parliament’s internal market committee has backed EU plans for all new types of car and van to be fitted with automated emergency call devices but opened the door to postponing their introduction beyond the proposed deadline of October 2015. Today’s vote on ‘eCall’ gives a green light for a pan-European ‘type approval’ method to ensure the devices meet the necessary technical standards. The decision follows a vote in December in the transport committee to approve legislation for member states to develop the […]
This article, by ETSC’s Executive Director Antonio Avenoso, was first published in the European Voice. The town of Kamienn Pomorski in Poland is still in shock following a tragedy that took place on New Year’s Day. A 26-year-old drunk driver drove his BMW into a crowd of people, killing six. One boy who was seriously injured lost both his parents and his brother. The incident has provoked media outrage and a huge public debate in Poland. But the European Union too must take note and […]
Two weeks after it was published on YouTube, a powerful and moving road safety film has been viewed more than six million times. The ad by the New Zealand Transport Agency has a grim message for drivers who love speeding: the road is not the right place to learn from mistakes.
ETSC says European Commission plans to improve urban mobility will need strengthening if they are to have a measurable impact on road safety. Commenting on yesterday’s launch of the ‘Urban Mobility Package’, Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of ETSC said: With 11,000 deaths on the road in urban areas across the EU each year, it is right that the European Commission says improving road safety in our cities should be a political priority. We welcome the renewed push to share good practice and further encouragement […]
EU plans for all new cars to be fitted with automated emergency call devices (eCall) moved a step closer today following a vote in the European Parliament’s Transport committee. ETSC welcomed the move. Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of ETSC said: “After a serious car crash, every second counts. This system has the potential to save many lives because it will enable the emergency services to respond quicker. “The European Parliament has been a strong supporter of eCall, it’s important that Parliament negotiators continue to […]
ETSC says the EU’s rejection of regular mandatory technical checks on motorcycles and scooters is a missed opportunity for reducing road deaths in Europe. EU lawmakers agreed this afternoon on a final deal on the ‘Roadworthiness package’ of legislation, originally proposed by the European Commission in October 2012. The agreement says ‘heavy’ motorcycles should be tested from 2022, but even after almost a decade has passed, member states will still not be forced to introduce the checks if they can show they have introduced […]
Approximately 100 people have been killed today in the European Union, the same was true yesterday and it will probably be the same tomorrow – on our roads. What are we doing about it? Could we do more? ETSC’s Ellen Townsend featured in this edition of Euronews I Talk to discuss the issues.