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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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