A new package of EU transport proposals that promise to revolutionise road safety in coming years has been welcomed by the UK’s biggest road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.

However, it has stated that a ‘huge opportunity’ has been missed by not specifically including enhancements to driver training.

The Third Mobility Package was put forward by the European Commission a few weeks ago, including proposals for new safety features to be fitted on all new cars being sold across the EU. It has been suggested these changes could have as drastic an impact on road injuries and fatalities as the compulsory wearing of seat belts did.

Among the dozen features the EU is calling to have vehicles fitted with are:

· advanced emergency braking (cars);

· drowsiness and attention detection (cars, vans, trucks, buses);

· distraction recognition and prevention (cars, vans, trucks, buses);

· event (accident) data recorder (cars and vans);

· full-width frontal occupant protection crash test - improved seatbelts (cars and vans);

· intelligent speed assistance (cars, vans, trucks, buses);

· lane assist (cars, vans).

The EU Commission says that while these features would not increase the prices of new cars, society will benefit to the tune of 73 billion euros through lives saved and injuries avoided.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research said, “The Directive and measures suggested here are very welcome, but as we often say the key to accident prevention is to stop them happening in the first place – not minimising their effect once they have occurred.  New technology brings many benefits but also requires new training approaches to ensure that those benefits are maximised. Safer cars require safer drivers as well as safer roads to ensure the system delivers the excellent targets set by the EU for a further 50% reduction in deaths by 2030.”

Road traffic accidents remain the biggest killer of young people in the EU. However, the changes will not happen instantly as the EU Member States and European Parliament will need to give their backing to the plans.

Photo: Neil Greig