Brussels, 07/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - The exchange of good practice would make it possible to considerably improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists on Europe's roads, the ETSC (European Transport Safety Council) states in its latest bulletin devoted to the vulnerability of pedestrians and cyclists in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. Several Member States have managed to significantly reduce the number of road victims through a combination of engineering or infrastructure measures, law enforcement and education - including awareness raising campaigns. The creation of 30 km/hour zones in residential districts and close to schools has, for example, brought about a 22% reduction in the number of people hit by cars in the Netherlands. Some countries, such as France, Hungary and Malta, have included road safety education in schools, but most teachers do not yet receive specific training for this subject. The wearing of bicycle helmets remains the most effective way to reduce bodily harm in the event of accident, and two European standards exist for them: the EN1078 (helmets for pedal cyclists and users of skateboards and roller skates) and the EN1080 (impact protection helmets for young children). In Malta, Spain, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Sweden, helmets are now compulsory, with variations for age and geographical area, and there is an ongoing effort to reduce the cost of helmets and encourage adults to wear them to set an example for the young. Generally speaking, government measures must tackle the factors that increase the risk of accidents for the most vulnerable road users. In the United Kingdom, for example, the attribution of driving licences should be more selective and penalties for speeding offences more severe, ETSC states. At European level, emphasis is generally on “passive safety”, which aims to improve the protection of passengers in vehicles during collision. European, Korean and Japanese manufacturers have adapted their models (in particular the bonnets and bumpers) to comply with Directive 2003/102/EC, while collision tests carried out by the EuroNCAP should allow the marketing of vehicles that are too dangerous for pedestrians or cyclists to be avoided. (For further information: http://www.etsc.be/documents/Fact-Sheet_VOICE_UK.pdf ).