ACEA

Working together to reduce casualties

Working together to reduce casualties

The safety of all road users - car and truck drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians - is a prime concern of European vehicle manufacturers. Thanks to constant improvements in vehicle safety, traffic casualties have been significantly reduced over the last three decades. Vehicle makers will continue contributing vigorously to the EU target of further halving road fatalities by 2010. It is clear though, that increasing vehicle safety is only one element of the integrated approach necessary to achieve further progress.

Strong commitment

In its communication on CARS 21*, the European Commission acknowledges the industry’s successful contributions to improving European road safety. Over the last 30 years, the number of traffic casualties has been cut by half, whilst the number of motor vehicles on the road has risen three-fold. This has largely been achieved through a combination of increased driver and passenger protection, improved crash test standards and heightened consumer awareness.


EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot and Ivan Hodac, Secretary General of ACEA, signing the European Road Safety Charter, NOVEMBER 2006, VERONA

To underline its long-standing, on-going commitment and efforts, the industry has, through ACEA, signed the European Road Safety Charter last year. In this important charter, the European automobile industry pledges to progressively continue to equip passenger cars and trucks with seatbelt warning systems. As a result of this, an overwhelming majority of new vehicles will be fitted with this important lifesaving tool by 2010. In particular the installation of seatbelts has contributed to an 80% decrease in fatal or serious injuries in road accidents in the past three decades. However, many serious injuries still find their origin in not using seatbelts. Warning car users not to forget to put their seatbelts on is an effective way to combat this trend. Secondly, European manufacturers will progressively build coaches with electronicallycontrolled stabilising systems.

Sharing Responsability

The European Road Safety Charter is an element of the EU strategy to cutting the number of road deaths in Europe by a further 50% by 2010. The European vehicle manufactures fully support this ambitious goal and stress that achieving the target is possible if all relevant parties
work together. Needed is an integrated approach, as defined by the CARS 21 Final Report from 2005. This means combining improvements in vehicle technology, road infrastructure, driver behaviour and enforcement of existing traffic regulations.

Such an approach addresses the fact that safety on the road is a shared, societal responsibility, involving all participants, including road users, governments and vehicle manufacturers. Regrettably, the European Commission focuses in its 2006 CARS 21 Communication too much on vehicle improvements while underestimating the effect infrastructure measures can have. Improving road safety requires the balanced combination of vehicle technology, infrastructure measures and education plus enforcement.

Increasing awareness

The European automotive industry spends some € 20 billion a year on research and development and a large proportion of this investment is dedicated to developing enhanced passive and active safety technologies for new vehicles. These advanced technologies, applied to vehicles and infrastructure, can greatly contribute to improved road safety and prevent or lessen the severity of accidents. But even when the latest safety technology is available, consumers do not necessarily realise the benefits that such additional safety options can bring. It takes time, therefore, for new features to be picked up by the market.

According to a 2006 Eurobarometer study, European motorists attach high importance to automotive safety, but price remains the most important factor in the purchase of a car. Affordability is key to consumers and additional electronic safety equipment often competes with comfort features for the consumer’s limited budget. In an effort to help raise consumer awareness of the benefits of investing in safety options, European automotive manufacturers have joined the European Commission in launching the “eSafetyAware” campaign. The eSafety initiative aims to increase the development, deployment and use of intelligent safety systems to improve road safety.

Driver behaviour

While much has been done to improve vehicle safety, more than 95% of all accidents involve human error. Inappropriate speed, driving under the influence of alcohol or medication and not wearing seatbelts are major factors in accidents today. For this reason, driver behaviour
is one of the key components of the integrated approach required to further dramatically reduce traffic casualties.

Driver behaviour can be positively influenced through better driver education and training, as well as stricter enforcement of existing traffic rules and regulations. As the European Commission found in its CARS 21 final report, better enforcement of existing traffic legislation is an
efficient and cost-effective means to help cut the rate of traffic fatalities on European roads.

Road infrastructure

Along with vehicle design and technology and driver behaviour, road infrastructure is the other key component of the integrated approach to road safety. EuroRAP, the European Road Assessment Programme supported by ACEA, points out that road infrastructure improvements are essential to achieve the EU target of a 50% cut in road deaths by 2010. Roads, designed to minimise bottlenecks and ensure better traffic flow, can have a significant impact on road safety. Investments in construction and maintenance of roads infrastructure are crucial. Unfortunately, in its road safety strategy the European Commission tends to overlook essential infrastructure measures, such as road safety audits, impact assessments and safety mappings. Yet, the quality of infrastructure is a key determinant of road safety for vehicle occupants, motorcyclists and the most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

Commercial vehicles

While trucks are often perceived as a road safety concern, commercial vehicles are involved in only about 10% of fatal road accidents. Over the past two decades, the number of fatalities involving trucks in Europe has declined at a faster rate than the overall downward trend in road accidents and fatalities. This is because commercial vehicle manufacturers are making important contributions towards improving road safety by devoting significant resources to building safety into their vehicles. As with passenger cars, to harness the full potential of the improvements in commercial vehicle safety, an integrated approach must be pursued, combining vehicle safety systems with well-trained, responsible drivers, and an upgraded, wellmaintained road infrastructure – because road safety is a shared responsibility

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