Brussels, 17/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission adopted on Friday the communication setting out its priorities in the area of road safety and assessing measures taken in the framework of the Action Programme 1997-2001. As anticipated in EUROPE of 11 March, page 13, the Commission first emphasises the quality of road infrastructures, the design of passenger cars and the compiling of statistics. It then foresees moving on to the harmonisation of criteria for driving licences.
The document on "Priorities for Road Safety in the EU - Progress Report and a Hierarchy of Actions", adopted on Friday, defines six absolute priorities: i) legislation on speed limits for light goods vehicles, ii) legislation on the design of car front ends to make them less dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists, iii) pursuit of the European programme of assessment of new car models (EurNCAP), which studies the effects of head-on and side collisions on passengers and pedestrians, iv) campaigns and legislation on the use of seat belts and child safety seats, v) recommendations to Member States on maximum authorised rates of alcohol in the blood for driving, vi) drafting of guidelines for the management of "hot spots" where accidents occur frequently and the design of "clement" road infrastructures. Three other measures are also considered important: a) the statistical data base on motor accidents, b) an integrated information system, c) research on standards and telematics applicable to vehicles.
Regarding assessments, the Commission observes that deadly accidents have declined in Europe, from around 46,000 in 1995 to 42,500 in 1998. Several measures have apparently produced an effect, notably: the safer design of cars, more frequent use of seat belts, a reduction in drinking and driving, traffic limitation measures and speed reduction. The Commission nonetheless notes that "we cannot be satisfied with the level of road safety attained", because the downturn in deadly accidents is slowing.