Brussels, 29/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas, disappointed by the slow-down in cutting road deaths revealed by the figures for 2011, has announced more police checks and compulsory roadworthiness tests for motorbikes. Despite the prevailing climate of crisis, he will not hear of any budget cuts on road safety and has asked member states for their national road safety action plans.
It was with disappointment that the commissioner learned that the rate of progress in cutting road fatalities had slowed. After encouraging reductions throughout the previous ten years, when deaths fell by 6%, only 2% progress was made in 2011. Worse, in countries like Germany and Sweden, which have very strong safety records, the number of road deaths rose.
“Eighty-five people still die on Europe's roads every day. These figures are a wake-up call”, Kallas said. At this stage, it is impossible to determine if this is nothing more than a blip or if a change is underway. All the information has to be carefully assessed, and perhaps look more closely at accidents caused by inattention through using smartphones. Kallas is determined, however, that this set back will not become more marked. The three main killers are already well-known: drink driving, not wearing a seat belt and ignoring red lights. The commissioner says that national rules can only work if they are applied, so more checks are required. He backs more police officers working on road safety. His specific focus in 2012 will be motorcyclists among whom road deaths have not fallen in ten years. He intends to make roadworthiness tests compulsory for motorbikes (proposal for approval before summer) and that young drivers no longer be allowed to drive high performance vehicles (put to member states in January). He is keeping a watchful eye on member states to ensure that they do not slacken in their efforts: “I am writing to ministers in all member states to ask for information about national road safety enforcement plans for 2012. I want to be reassured that even in tough economic times this important work, which is so central to road safety, is not being scaled back”. (MD/transl.rt)