Brussels, 20/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The EP transport committee adopted the own initiative report of Mr Ari Vatanen (EPP-ED, Finnish elected in France) on the third European action programme on road safety proposed by the Commission “Reducing the number of victims on the road by half by 2010: a shared responsibility”. As a rally car racing driver, Vatanen welcomed the adoption of this report, which he regards as a “strong signal putting safety in the top rank of priorities”. Road accidents remain the main cause of death for those aged under 50 (43,000 in 2004) and their direct and indirect costs represent around EUR 200 bn, 2% of the EU25's GDP. In an effort to make the roads safer, it is crucial that there is a European approach that allows national authorities to control infringements and sanctions imposed in other Member States. Most accidents are due to the highway code being broken. Respect for rules must be reinforced but they must also be adapted to help develop driver behaviour, essentially safety belt wearing, speed limits or drunk driving. MEPs adopted the amendments targeting the training of young drivers and vulnerable road users, pointing out that the risk of a car driver is 17 times higher than for a motorbike user and 9 times higher for pedestrians and cyclists. MEPs are also calling on the Commission to take measures for harmonising road signs and driver information, as well as to put a communication strategy into place. The report also indicates incentive measures, notably tax breaks for safer vehicles and wider use of the EuroNCAP category, the European programme for assessing safety levels on new car models.