On Tuesday 14 November, MEPs meeting in plenary session adopted by a very large majority (593 votes for, 39 against, 53 abstentions) the own-initiative report submitted by Dieter-Lebrecht Koch (EPP, Germany) entitled, “Saving lives: boosting car safety in the EU”.
There was barely any doubt about this massive support provided by MEPs because the text had already received very broad support during the Parliament’s transport committee meeting on 12 October last (see EUROPE 11882).
The report aims to significantly reduce the number of road accidents, given that more than 25,000 people lose their lives on European roads every year, despite progress recently made.
The measures suggested by the text involve, above all, equipping vehicles with driving assisted systems due to the fact that 95% of accidents are caused by human error and failings. It advocates the compulsory equipping of smart speed assistance devices, a lane crossing warning system and an automatic emergency braking system for detecting cyclists and pedestrians. The report also envisages incentives to purchase vehicles equipped with these systems.
Alcohol is also responsible for many road accidents in the EU. The introduction of a 0.0% authorised blood alcohol level for young drivers (who passed their driving test less than two years ago), as well as equipping alcohol ignition interlock for professional drivers and repeat offenders are also proposed in this own initiative report.
This text was welcomed ahead of the vote by several MEPs from all the different political families during the debate with the European Transport Commissioner, Violeta Bulc. The latter was keen to emphasise that Mr Koch had accomplished excellent work by drafting this text. She subsequently stated that the Union had to take “more robust” action to tackle the scourge of road accidents. She added that the European Commission was examining measures to enhance road safety as part of the presentation of the third “mobility” package in the first half of 2018.
ETSC urges Commission to take action. In a press release, the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) welcomed the vote on this report, which it described as, “the EU’s best hope” for road safety. Given the need to take action, the ETSC’s Executive Director, Antonio Avenoso, however, highlighted the fact that, “it is now absolutely critical that the European Commission publishes its proposals without any further delay”. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)