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The publication of the European Commission’s 2015 provisional road safety figures leaves no room for complacency as they show an increase in fatalities compared to the previous year. Even in 2014, there was only a 0.6% reduction, and it had been the first year in a long time without a significant reduction. Today’s announcement confirms stagnation for the second consecutive year, which brings the EU further away from the goal of halving road deaths by 2020.
Jacob Bangsgaard, FIA Region I Director General, said: “We hope that the EU and Member States see these figures as a wakeup call. New challenges, such as driver distraction, are emerging today that are linked to a broader use of technology and should be addressed in their own right. However, some low hanging fruit such as: mandating existing safety technologies; improving the training of novice drivers; and ensuring an adequate standard for our roads, would already go a long way to improving the situation.”
The FIA encourages renewed efforts, in particular with regards to protecting vulnerable road users and addressing emerging risk factors such as the increased distraction of traffic participants. With this in mind, the FIA calls on policy makers to:
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Notes to Editors
Related FIA Region I policy briefs:
| General Road Safety Regulation | Traffic education and driver training |
About FIA Region I
The FIA Region I office, based in Brussels, is a consumer body representing 112 Mobility Clubs and their 38 million members from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The FIA represents the interest of these members as motorists, public transport users, pedestrians and tourists. The FIA’s primary goal is to secure a mobility that is safe, affordable, sustainable and efficient. With these aims in mind, the FIA Region I work focuses on Road Safety, Consumer Protection, Environmental Protection, and the promotion of Sustainable Motoring. www.fiaregion1.com
