Road safety in the EU has improved significantly over the past decades, thanks to strong and effective action taken at EU, national and local level to address road user behaviour, vehicles and infrastructure. As a result the EU roads are the safest world-wide.

This increased safety can to a large extent be attributed to EU legislative requirements on safety of vehicles that have been introduced over these years as part of the EU policy on road safety. These vehicle safety requirements were also a boost to European research, development and innovation: when industry was faced with more ambitious requirements it found the ways to respond with innovative technical solutions.

Road safety (2019 - 2020)

Between 1991 and 2017, and especially after 2000, the EU witnessed substantial improvements in terms of road safety, whether measured in terms of fatalities, accidents or injuries.&nbsp; Over a shorter period, between 2001 and 2010, the number of deaths on EU roads decreased by 43 %, and by around another 20 % since 2010.The most recent figures, however, show that progress in reducing the fatality rate is stagnating.

Specific road users or demographic groups are not witnessing the same improvements as the rest of the population.&nbsp;Despite being the safest region in the world, and despite sustained efforts to tackle road safety,&nbsp;around 22 700 people die on EU roads annually, with around 120 000 seriously injured.&nbsp;

Road safety is a shared competence, implying that many measures are primarily dealt with by Member States. However, the EU, has&nbsp;significantly developed the acquis in this area, with the Commission adopting several policy frameworks on road safety.

In 2003, the EU set itself a target in terms of reducing road fatalities, and regularly monitors progress towards this goal. In June 2017, the Council endorsed the Valletta Declaration, which reasserted commitments and targets in the area of road safety. In May 2018, within the context of the third and last 'mobility package', the Commission presented a common framework for road safety for the 2021-2030 period, recalling the EU’s long-term goal of moving as close as possible to zero fatalities in road transport by 2050 ('Vision Zero').

The European Parliament has adopted numerous resolutions regarding or covering road safety, calling notably for more detailed and measurable targets, more account taken of vulnerable users as well as of the safety challenges emerging from the development of connected and automated mobility.

Road safety

Press conference - Driving licence rules

Press conference on The review of EU driving licence rules

SOS system in car that can call the emergency services in the event of an accident

eCall emergency button in vehicle

The eCall emergency button in a car

To improve road safety and support the digital transition, MEPs will debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on updating driving licence rules, introducing mobile licences and mandatory health checks for drivers. A press conference with the rapporteur will take place at 14.30 after the vote. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Karima DELLI (Greens/EFA, FR), rapporteur on The review of EU driving license rules

To improve road safety and support the digital transition, MEPs debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on updating driving licence rules, introducing mobile licences and mandatory health checks for drivers. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Directive on Driving Licenses: extracts from the debate

To improve road safety and support the digital transition, MEPs debate and vote (on Wednesday) on updating driving licence rules, introducing mobile licences and mandatory health checks.

Debate: Driving licences: MEPs debate

Debate: Driving licences: Closing statements by Karima DELLI, Rapporteur, and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

To improve road safety and support the digital transition, MEPs debate and vote on updating driving licence rules, introducing mobile licences and mandatory health checks. Opening statements by Karima DELLI, Rapporteur, and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Debate: Driving licences: Opening statements by Karima DELLI, Rapporteur, and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

To achieve a goal of zero deaths on EU roads by 2050, MEPs debate on a draft resolution. Around 22 700 people die on EU roads annually, with around 120 000 seriously injured. To remedy this situation, MEPs call for more investments in safer roads, a speed limit of 30km/h in residential areas and areas where there are high numbers of cyclists and pedestrians, as well as for zero-tolerance approach to drink-driving. Statement by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left, EL), rapporteur, extracts from the debate (04/10) and result of the vote

EU Road Safety: statement by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left, EL), rapporteur, extracts from the debate (04/10) and result of the vote

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero".

EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero": MEPs debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero". Closing statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality.

EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 – Recommendations on next steps towards "Vision Zero": closing statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

car safety (T)

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