Quick Overview

Addressing the critical issue of road safety within the European Union, our speakers highlighted the alarming statistics of road fatalities and serious injuries, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive action. View the recording of the session here (Passcode: EuropeTravel25!).

The Current State of Road Safety in the European Union (EU)

There is an unacceptably high number of deaths and serious injuries due to road collisions in the EU countries. Key Statistics include:

• 20,400 people died in road traffic in 2023.
• An estimated 110,000 people were seriously injured in road traffic in 2019.

EU Road Safety Policy Framework

• Long-term: No deaths or serious injuries on the road by 2050
• Mid-term: Decrease deaths and serious injuries on the road by 50% by 2030.

The Safe System Approach

The safe system approach creates share responsibility among stakeholders. This include those who design the roads and those who are using vehicles on the roads. All parts of the system must be strengthened to multiply their effects. The five elements of this approach are:

1. Safe Speeds
   • Set safe and credible speed limits.
   • Increase enforcement and campaigns.
2. Safe Roads
   • Roads should calm traffic and be easy to follow.
   • Road markings and signs should be easy to read and understand.
3. Safe Vehicles
   • All new vehicles will have Intelligent Speed Assistance and Autonomous Emergency Braking.
4. Safe People
   • People are educated on traffic laws and safety, and these laws are strictly enforced.
5. Post-Crash Care
   • The Golden Hour, the first hour after a collision, is crucial to a person’s survival and for limiting the extent of the injuries.
   • Each step after a crash is critical. From the receipt of the call to the arrival at the scene and hospital transfer.

European Commission Road Safety Package

Three main initiatives:

1. Driving License Directive
   • New restrictions on young drivers, new content for driver training and medical fitness based tests.
2. Cross Border Enforcement Directive
   • Strengthened enforcement of cross border road traffic violations and increased penalties.
3. Driver Disqualification Directive
   • Driving under the influence, extreme speeding and an accident which has caused death or serious bodily injury would be means for license disqualification.

Conclusion

The multifaceted challenges and strategic solutions necessary to improve road safety across the EU demand attention. Achieving the EU’s ambitious road safety goals requires a collaborative approach. By implementing the Safe System Approach, strengthening enforcement through the European Commission’s directives and leveraging technological advancements, significant reductions in road fatalities and serious injuries are possible.

Additional Resources

Stay up to sate on road safety rules in Europe by visiting the Your Europe portal. Filter by country, travel rights and more. The app discussed in the webinar is no longer being maintained, but the portal serves as an alternative source for this information.

View the Recording

Passcode: EuropeTravel25!