European Commission
Adina-Ioana Vălean, a Romanian politician, MEP and chair of the European Parliament’s Industry committee will take over from Violeta Bulc as European Commissioner for Transport from 1 December. Mrs Vălean was approved for the role at a European Parliament hearing on 14 November. In her opening statement to MEPs she said: “25 000 [deaths] per year is simply unacceptable. We should share the objective of halving the number of road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 compared to 2020.” Later at the same hearing, […]
ETSC has welcomed a number of aspects of the EU’s ten-year action plan on road safety, published in June. But ETSC also suggests, in a briefing published earlier this month, that a number of areas will require bolder action in order to reach the ambitious targets set out in the Commission’s plan. The ETSC report highlights the following elements of the Commission’s proposals that are particularly welcome: A new target to halve road deaths between 2020 and 2030 as well as, for the first […]
In June 2019, the European Commission adopted the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030,[1] outlining specific policy measures planned for 2021-2030 and developing on the EU Strategic Action Plan on Road Safety published in May 2018.[2] This briefing reflects ETSC’s first assessment of these initiatives with suggestions for further development and implementation. This document refers mainly to the measures addressed by the European Commission in these latest documents. An earlier ETSC briefing, published in February 2018 as input to the Commission’s preparatory process, contains […]
Local authorities across Europe have until 16 December to apply for the first ever EU Urban Road Safety Award, launched as part of this year’s European Mobility Week. The awards recognise the crucial role that towns and cities across Europe play in improving road safety, especially in light of the fact that 38 percent of road deaths and more than 50 percent of serious road injuries occur on urban roads. The award rewards local authorities for adopting holistic measures to improve road safety, within […]
The incoming President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has set out her priorities for the next Commissioner of Transport in a “mission letter” published earlier this month. But the process for approving the new transport Commissioner is now on hold following the rejection of Romania’s choice for Commissioner, MEP Rovana Plumb, by a committee of the European Parliament on the grounds of concerns over undeclared loans and transparency. The proposed Commissioners will be subject to hearings and final approval from the […]
EU Member States have formally rejected a European Commission proposal on specifications for the first wave of C-ITS (Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems) in the EU following a dispute about technology neutrality. The specifications, which should lead to warning messages such as temporary speed limits or collisions on the road ahead beamed directly into vehicles, were set to be built on a type of wifi technology, which had already been developed by several carmakers and technology providers. But several EU Member States and various actors […]
The European Commission has published its Road Safety Policy Framework for the period 2021 – 2030. The new framework was announced by the European Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, at the ETSC Road Safety Performance Index Conference, held today in Brussels. The publication, which is a non-binding “staff working document”, is a follow-up to an action plan published in May 2018 as part of the package of new road safety legislation that included new vehicle and infrastructure safety standards. One key area where the […]
A new feature which enables Tesla vehicles to change lane without the driver’s intervention has been criticised by the American consumer organisation Consumer Reports. The organisation, which carried out its own tests on the feature, and interviewed drivers and law enforcement officials, says the system is less competent than a human driver. The tests found that the car would cut off other drivers without leaving enough space, didn’t respond well to fast-moving vehicles coming from the rear and appeared not to react to stop […]
The European Commission and the European Investment Bank have launched a new initiative to help public authorities and the private sector access funding and loans for road safety. The “Safer Transport Platform – Road Safety Advisory” provides a single access point to the full range of existing EIB and EC advisory services and financial products. It guides potential applicants to the appropriate funding and financing instruments. The service is supported by the European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) and includes a web site with a contact form, […]
The European Commission has published the 2018 figures for road deaths and serious injuries in the European Union. Commenting on the new figures, Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) said: “It’s very disappointing that road deaths in the EU hardly declined in 2018. This is now the fifth year in a row that hardly any progress has been made. However there are reasons to be optimistic for the future. “In recent weeks, the EU has finalised two important pieces […]
19 March 2019 Dear representatives of the Council, the Romanian Presidency, the European Parliament and the Commission, On 25 March, the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission will take part in the trilogue negotiations on the package of vehicle safety and pedestrian protection measures known as the General Safety Regulation. These measures represent a historic, once-in-a-generation opportunity to dramatically reduce the scourge of death and serious injury on Europe’s roads. Not since the introduction of mandatory seatbelt laws, has such a change […]
In the run-up to crucial votes by EU industry ministers and in the European Parliament, the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has launched a new social media campaign in support of future EU vehicle safety standards. In May this year the European Commission announced a significant proposal to upgrade mandatory vehicle safety standards for all new cars, vans, lorries and buses sold in the EU. The combination of new standards and technologies could save 25,000 lives in the EU between 2022 and 2037 according […]
Letter: ACEA’s attempts to weaken the European Commission’s proposals on new vehicle safety measures
A group of safety experts, consumer groups, transport police, environmental campaigners, city authorities, cyclists and road collision victims have written today to members of the European Parliament’s Committees on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Transport (TRAN) to raise concerns over the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA)’s attempts to weaken the European Commission’s proposals on new vehicle safety measures and to ask MEPs to pass the legislation as soon as possible, to maximise its life-saving potential. Download the full letter (pdf) For more […]
Is Automation the Future of Vehicle Safety? ETSC’s 25th Anniversary Debate Tuesday 16 October 2018, 18:30 #ETSC25
Spalio 4 diena, 2018 metai, 08.30-16.00 Diskusija vyko Europos namuose, Gedimino pr.16, Vilnius Technologijų demonstravimas vyko Vilniaus autodrome, Mokyklos g. 21, 14182, Bukiškio k. Vilniaus r. Lietuvos Respublikos Susiekimo ministerija, Europos Komisijos atstovybė Lietuvoje ir Europos Transporto saugos taryba rengė saugaus eismo diskusiją Vilniuje. Renginio metu susisiekimo ministras Rokas Masiulis tarė sveikinimo žodį. Diskusijos tema – automobilių saugos reikšmė siekiant nulinės vizijos. Po diskusijos Vilniaus autodrome vyko autonominio avarinio stabdymo bandymas. Spauskite čia, norėdami parsisiųsti renginio programą. 4 October 2018, 08.30-16.00 Venue of the discussion: […]
ETSC has warmly welcomed the appointment of Matthew Baldwin as the first European coordinator for road safety. Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of ETSC said: “Following on from the Commission’s major package of road safety measures in May, we’re delighted that Commissioner Bulc has created this new leadership role to help deliver the EU’s road safety strategy for 2030. Matthew has a great understanding of the issues, and the clarity of vision to see where and how the EU can add the most value. We’re […]
On 17 May 2018, the European Commission published a proposal to revise EU infrastructure safety rules. In this paper, ETSC presents recommendations for the revision of the road infrastructure safety management (RISM) Directive 2008/96 and Tunnel Safety Directive 2004/54.
On 17 May 2018 the European Commission adopted its EU Strategic Action Plan for Road Safety, outlining the main measures to be taken before the end of the current Commission’s mandate ending in 2019, as well as an outline of actions planned for the 2021-2030 period. The EC also committed to present an EU Road Safety Policy Framework for 2021-2030 by spring 2019 to further develop the proposals. The EU Strategic Action Plan was published as part of the third mobility package, which also […]
All new vehicles sold in the EU will feature a standardised interface to enable the fitment of aftermarket alcohol interlock devices, according to new EU vehicle safety standards proposed last month. The proposed requirement, part of a package of new vehicle safety standards, should make it simpler and cheaper to fit an alcohol interlock when a driver is required to do so by law. Several EU countries have rehabilitation programmes for recidivist drink drivers that require installation of an interlock before a driver is […]
ETSC has written to the European Commission for the second time this year regarding concerns over the safety and approval process for new driver assist systems including lane change systems. Earlier this year, new rules on the functionality of lane change assist systems were agreed at the UNECE in Geneva. The rules could be integrated within EU law within a few months, meaning car manufacturers will be able to “type approve” vehicles fitted with such a system for sale across the EU. Such systems […]