Brussels, 02/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - Nothing seems to be moving at European level to make our roads safer, with the number of people killed on European roads representing an average-sized aeroplane crash every day, says Antonio Avenoso, the executive director of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC). Seeing news of this kind on our screens every day “would be unacceptable; the same attitude should be taken towards road deaths”. This was Avenoso's reaction to the latest figures on poor road safety performance in 2011 in Europe, which were published by the European Commission last week. “There is no room for complacency, even after several years of good progress”, he said.
Nothing since 2010. Avenoso criticises the EU for failing to take any concrete initiatives since 2010 to improve road safety results: “Since 2010 - when the European Road Safety Policy Orientations were published - we have yet to see any new legislative proposal from the Commission”. Avenoso hopes that this “cold shower will reinvigorate the European Commission and governments and help them get back on track to reach EU 2020 road safety targets”.
But things are moving on. Siim Kallas, European Transport Commissioner, has nonetheless pledged to do more to protect motorcyclists, the road users most exposed to danger, notably by banning younger riders from riding large motorbikes and bringing in an MOT test for all two-wheeled motorised vehicles. Belgium, which has been criticised by the Commission for its poor results, has already revealed its action plans to regain control of the situation. Further action plans are set to follow in response to the call to order by Kallas. (MD/transl.fl)