The European Parliament adopted in plenary session on Tuesday 5 October the report by Greek MEP Elena Kountoura (The Left) on the main measures to be taken on road safety for the period 2021-2030 (see EUROPE 12690/11).
“There are almost 20,000 road deaths every year. It is unacceptable, but it is not inevitable”, said Ms Kountoura on Monday 4 October during a debate in which a very large majority of the Parliament’s political families recognised the need for action on road safety.
The text adopted on Tuesday thus provides for a reflection on a 30km/h speed limit in all residential areas. Similarly, the text also advocates zero tolerance of drink-driving. These two factors are responsible for 30 and 25% of fatal accidents respectively.
In addition, the report also includes a mapping of all roads to identify problem areas and a review of existing national funds for infrastructure development.
During the debate, some MEPs also suggested going further, by limiting the power of vehicles or offering training to professional drivers.
Others, such as Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg) and Isabel García Muñoz (S&D, Spain), called for a focus on sustainable mobility, especially in urban areas. “Safety and sustainability go hand in hand”, summarised Ms Metz.
Elena Kountoura’s text is part of the European Commission’s goal to halve the number of road deaths within the decade and to achieve ‘zero deaths’ by 2050. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)