health check: roadmap to road safety 2020

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HEALTH CHECK: ROADMAP TO ROAD SAFETY 2020

Executive Summary The European Union has made good progress in implementing its Road Safety Action Plan 2011-2020.

However, some areas need further action to achieve the ambitious goal of halving fatalities on European

roads by 2020. FIA Region I calls for a shared, voluntary effort, driven by strong political will and leadership,

to tackle the remaining road safety challenges. The FIA calls on decision-makers to:

Define a European standard for data collection and processing for road safety statistics, to form the

basis of sound legislation

Mandate additional safety technologies for passenger cars, such as increased use of driver

assistance safety systems and swift integration of eCall

Improve the safety of heavy duty vehicles through better cabin design that offer further protection

to vulnerable road users

Pursue research on safety systems for powered two wheelers and promote additional driver training

for riders

Encourage training and education on road safety from an early age and include defensive driver

skills training and mandatory second phase driver training for novice drivers

Improve road infrastructure with specific attention to the design of new roads and to maintenance

and repairs to the most dangerous roads

Changes in traffic legislation impact all road users. The EU should encourage decision-makers at every level to

carry out targeted information campaigns when such updates are made.


Background

In 2009, the FIA launched the Roadmap to Road Safety 2020, which highlighted the need for better road safety

statistics; better vehicle safety for passenger cars and heavy duty vehicles; greater research on safety systems

for powered two wheelers; improved driver training; and investment in safer road infrastructure. As the halfway

point of the implementation of the European Road Safety Action Plan is approaching, the FIA is examining the

road safety achievements thus far, so as to highlight the measures still needed to reach the 2020 goals.

Consistent data

In 2009, the FIA called on the Commission to improve the quality of road safety statistics and support EU

projects focused on urban road safety.

Since the publication of the Road Safety Action Plan: The Commission developed a common definition for serious

injuries to be used for European statistics. Based on the statistics that will emerge from this common definition,

a target to reduce serious injuries will be set in 2015. The Commission highlighted the need to fund additional

research on the mitigation of serious injuries.

To further improve road safety by 2020, the FIA calls on the Commission to:

• Develop a European standard for the collection and processing car crash data, to support the analysis of

accident causation

• Set an ambitious target to reduce serious injuries by 2020. Considering the current level of decrease, a 30 %

reduction of serious injuries due to road accidents could be an appropriate goal

• Support the promotion and deployment of car safety technologies to decrease the numbers and severity of

accidents

• Support EU projects aiming to reduce road casualties in urban environments

Passenger cars

In 2009, the FIA called on the Commission to facilitate the deployment of a number of promising safety

technologies via vehicle type-approval legislation and, more generally, to promote the take-up of driving

assistance systems.

Since the publication of the Road Safety Action Plan: CARS 2020 stakeholders made recommendations to

investigate possible improvements in passive and active safety and promote an integrated approach to vehicle

safety, including education for drivers. In addition, the Commission proposed to mandate the pan-European

emergency call system, eCall, in all passenger cars by 2015.

To achieve safer passenger cars by 2020, the FIA calls on the Commission to:

• Evaluate the safety benefits of making assistance systems such as Assisted Emergency Braking Systems

mandatory and taking appropriate action

• Support the deployment of a number of promising safety technologies, focussing on new driver assistance

systems to protect vulnerable users

• Ensure that eCall is implemented as soon as possible and fully benefits consumers in terms of safety and

allows for the development of additional applications improving traffic awareness


Heavy duty vehicles

In 2009, the FIA urged the Commission to improve the Regulation on rear protection devices for trucks and

support the development of vision enhancing assistance systems for truck drivers.

Since the publication of the policy orientations on road safety 2011-2020: The EU adopted new provisions on the

digital tachograph, ensuring better compliance with rules on driving times and rest periods. The Commission

revised its proposal on vehicle weights and dimensions, allowing for cabin design improvements that increase

visibility for truck drivers, for better protection of vulnerable road users. The Commission’s proposed

introduction of on-board weighting devices is under discussion by the Council and Parliament.

To achieve safer trucks by 2020, the FIA calls on the Commission to:

• Strengthen type approval requirements regarding under-run protection devices, to avoid smaller vehicles

sliding underneath a truck in a rear end collision

• Implement the revised proposal on weights and dimensions, allowing for cabin design improvements that

will increase visibility for truck drivers

• Support the development and deployment of promising safety technologies, including driver assistance

systems to protect vulnerable users

Powered two-wheelers

In 2009, the FIA called on the Commission to significantly improve the safety of motorcycles by adapting the

type approval legislation for vehicles and including a second stage for rider training.

Since the publication of the Road Safety Action Plan: The Commission revised the two-wheelers type approval

legislation and mandated Anti-Lock Braking systems for motorcycles with an engine displacement above 125 cc.

The entry into force of the third Driving License Directive introduced progressive access to motorcycle riding

licenses and a new AM license for mopeds. At the same time the access to motorcycles over 125 cc was

restricted. The new motorcycle license has been made conditional upon previous experience with small

motorbikes and the minimum age for direct access to a license for motorcycles over 125 cc has been raised to 24

years.

For better safety for powered two wheelers, the FIA calls on the Commission to:

• Include motorcycles needs, such as skid-resistance, into revised TEN-T guidelines for funding road

infrastructure

• Promote research on safety systems specifically for motorcycles

• Raise awareness among motorcycle riders to encourage the uptake of additional driver training

Training, education and enforcement

In 2009, the FIA called on the Commission to actively support training and awareness raising measures that can

improve user behaviour, with the aim of achieving an integrated approach to road safety, including vehicles,

infrastructure and users.

Since the publication of the Road Safety Action Plan: The Commission revised the Driving License Directive to

introduce a higher level of harmonisation of the format of the license. Under this revision, truck and bus drivers

must undergo medical tests every time their driving license is renewed.


To improve driver training, the FIA calls on the Commission to:

• Amend the Driving License Directive to include mandatory second phase driver training for novice drivers,

while making sure that any additional cost is kept to a minimum for learners

• Develop a Recommendation to encourage Member States to introduce traffic education for children from

an early age and throughout their education

• Implement mandatory periodic advanced driver safety training for professional drivers, with emphasis on

how to deal with risks and dangerous situations

• Develop awareness raising tools and materials for road safety campaigns addressing specifically vulnerable

road users and the positive road safety potential of eco-driving

Infrastructure

In 2009, the FIA urged the Commission to direct European funding to the delivery of a safe road infrastructure.

Since the publication of the Road Safety Action Plan: The European Commission revised the TEN-T guidelines for

funding road infrastructure, indicating that priority should be given to projects on (a) improvement and

promotion of road safety and (b) use of intelligent transport systems (ITS), in particular for multimodal

information and traffic management systems, and integrated communication and payment systems. The

Commission is also working on the provision of a minimum set of traffic status-related data to users free of

charge.

For safer road infrastructure by 2020, the FIA calls on the Commission to:

• Direct TEN-T funding to the delivery of safe road infrastructure following agreed minimum safety standards

• Provide a minimum set of traffic status and safety related data (e.g. upcoming traffic situations, the state of

the road infrastructure and weather conditions) in-vehicle to road users free of charge

• Make use of regional funds to promote Europe-wide safe road infrastructure programmes making safe road

design a priority, with special attention to dangerous roads

• Support research and monitoring to establish the economic costs and benefits that can be achieved with

safe road infrastructure programmes

Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Region I office

FIA Region I represents 110 Touring and Motoring Clubs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa from its Brussels

office, which total more than 38 million members. 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, environmentally sustainable and efficient. As part of the FIA’s commitment to road safety, we

participate in several European multi-stakeholder projects promoting road safety, including HeERO 2, an EU

project supporting the deployment of eCall. The FIA has also committed to the European Road Safety Charter.

Learn more at fiaregion1.com

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health check: roadmap to road safety 2020

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