ISSUE No. 11 JUNE 2013
SOL - SAVE OUR LIVES. A COMPREHENSIVE ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY FOR CENTRAL EUROPE
THE SOL eMAGAZINE The SOL eMAGAZINE is produced by the SOL consortium. All articles are written by the SOL partners. The responsibility for all contents and statements made lies with the authors. The eMagazine does not represent the opinion of the European Communities. The project „SOL – Save our Lives“ in the Central Europe Program www.central2013.eu is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Find more about SOL on: www.sol-project.eu
Photo: FGM
THE S O L F I N A L C O N F E R E N C E TO O K PLACE IN BRUS S E L S O N T H E 2 7 T H O F M AY 2013
DEAR READERS Welcome to the new issue of the SOL project
The SOL Final Conference, was held in Brus-
meet many experts from all over Europe and
eMagazine. In this issue, we would like to focus
sels on 27th May 2013 in Brussels. This was
to present the project results obtained in the
your attention on our final conference that took
an opportunity for all SOL Project Partners to
area of road safety in the partner countries.
place in Brussels in May. It was a great success
The conference was started off with an intro-
ments. ETSC Director, Mr Avenoso, provided in-
ductory speech from Mrs Olga Sehnalova, Czech
teresting recommendations to public authorities
MEP Transport and Tourism who showed that
and also the European Commission with regard
The SOL Road Safety Guidelines for Experts and for
road safety is a cross cutting priority and that,
to future actions.
Decision Makers are also available now. You can
to achieve positive results a good cooperation
During the second part of the Conference the
download them on the website: http://www.sol-
among EU institutions and national and local au-
discussion focused on the effectiveness of the
project.eu/index.php?id=2589&ID1=2589!
thorities is necessary. The ensuing discussion
developed pilot projects in the project area.
The other articles presented here will deal with the
started with a speech of Mr. Szabolcs Schmidt,
Thanks to representatives of the public admi-
youth Flashmob for Road Safety that took place
Head of Road Safety Unit of DG MOVE, European
nistrations, police and other stakeholders from
in Athens and with the new WHO European Road
Commission. Mr. Szabolcs Schmidt presented
Mantua, Kocevje, Gyor, Presov, Olsztyn, the
Safety report.
the latest developments on the European Road
round table showed how working together at a
Safety Area from the perspective of the EC. Then
local level is fundamental for achievements con-
Ms Di Pietro from GRSP showed how we can
cerning of road safety issues.
Enjoy reading
learn from a different kind of road safety part-
You can find all presentations from the confe-
Alberto Milotti Project Manager SOL
nerships that can be established among local
rence on our project website
authorities, stakeholders and national govern-
www.sol-project.eu.
all around. The invited speakers captivated the audience with their presentations.
J u n e 2 0 1 3 ISSUE No. 11
Photo: A.L.O.T.
E U R O P EAN COMMISSION: THE STATE OF THE ART I N R OA D SAFETY As starting point, Mr. Schmidt
One of the most interesting lectures at the Fi-
MOVE, European Commission. He presented
presented the most recent EU
nal Conference was the one from Mr. Szabol-
the latest developments in the European Road
road safety statistics: compared
cs Schmidt, Head of Road Safety Unit of DG
Safety Area from the EC perspective.
As starting point, Mr. Schmidt presented the
Safer vehicles; 5. Intelligent Transport Systems
most recent EU road safety statistics: compared
(ITS); 6. Emergency and post-injuries services; 7.
to last year the accident rate was reduced by 9%,
Vulnerable road users.
this means 28.000 fewer road fatalities in 2012.
The second key point of the speech presented
Despite the improvements that have been made
the holistic integrated approach underlying all EU
within the last years this value is still unaccept-
initiatives in the field of road safety. Concretely,
ably high for the Commission. For this reason,
this is a system-wide intervention based on the
the Commission has recently drafted a step wise
long-term elimination of death and serious in-
strategy to tackle seriously injured. This strategy
jury and on the shared responsibility among all
will not only improve the statistic but also set a
citizens. Sharing responsibility among all the citi-
target for. To achieve this result an EU strategy
zens means that all road users, not only drivers,
with seven strategic objectives has been outlined
should make an effort in behaving safely. This
in the Policy Orientations for the Road Safety Pol-
also includes pedestrians and cyclists. In order to
icy: 1. Education and training; 2. Compliance with
achieve this awareness and cooperation have to
road traffic rules; 3. Safer road infrastructure; 4.
be increased through the European Road Safety
to last year the accident rate was reduced by 9%, this means 28.000 fewer road fatalities in 2012.
Photo: A.L.O.T.
2
Charter. The European Road Safety Charter is a
cal authorities from different Member States and
well known instrument, conceived in 2004, to in-
provided them with support to elaborate a road
tegrate the civil society in the endeavour to reach
safety strategy and actions that are tailor-made
the common EU target.
to the need of local communities. Here it needs to
Mr. Schmidt underlined that the Project “SOL
be underlined that SOL is not top-down initiative
- Save Our Lives” may provide interesting Les-
proposed or financed by DG MOVE but rather the
sons Learnt concerning the application of the
opposite: SOL was conceived and implemented
shared responsibility principle at different gov-
by local and regional authorities.
ernance levels. This is because SOL involved lo-
DO YOU KNOW, THAT EVERY DAY,
85 PEOPLE ARE DYING
ON EUROPEAN ROADS
THE SOL ROAD SAFETY GUIDELINES - “ADVICE FOR EXPERTS AND DECISION MAKERS” ARE AVAILABLE NOW
Photo: FGM
The “SOL Road Safety Guidelines - Advice
May. Moreover, a DVD with all major outputs,
for experts and decision makers” is avail-
deliverables and the movie is included in the
able as electronic and paper version since
brochure.
A major objective of SOL is to provide guidance
develop and implement a road safety strategy
for both experts and practitioners and road safe-
and the importance of monitoring the results.
ty decision makers on the key concepts regard-
Wider issues such as community engagement,
ing road safety. This also includes the principles
sustainable transport and land use policy are
of a Safe System approach to road safety man-
also included. There is also a detailed section
agement.
that describes the tools which a low a replica-
The Guidelines are divided in two main sections:
tion on a transnational level. These tools are a
a guidance manual for experts and practitioners,
key output of the SOL project.
and a shorter manual that highlights the key is-
The manual for decision makers concentrates on
sues for decision makers. Some content is the
the need for action and how roads can be made
same in both manuals, but as each manual de-
safe. Both manuals include sections on the most
signed as a stand-alone all texts are available in
important road safety interventions but it is not
provide guidance for both ex‑
both documents.
the purpose of the manuals to provide compre-
perts and practitioners and
The manuals describe the global road safety
hensive guidance on interventions. There are
road safety decision makers
situation in the context of the Decade of Action,
many existing sources of information, including
on the key concepts regarding
and the current road safety situation in Central
the manuals published by WHO that focus on
road safety.
European countries compared with other EU
how to develop and implement programmes to
countries, showing the need for urgent action to
address the key risks such as speed and drink
address the road safety problem. They include
driving. Primary information sources are refer-
details of the SOL project’s aims and method-
enced, and a full bibliography is included.
ology and how they have been implemented
You can flip through or download the guidelines
through a range of pilot actions.
on the SOL website:
A major section in the manual for experts de-
www.sol-project.eu/index php?id=2589&ID1=2589
Photo: FGM
A major objective of SOL is to
scribes the steps to be undertaken in order to
3
J u n e 2 0 1 3 ISSUE No. 11
Photo: EYFRS / RSI “PANOS MYLONAS”
A YOUTH FLASHMOB FOR ROAD SAFETY TOOK PLACE IN ATHENS, GREECE
Photo: EYFRS / RSI “PANOS MYLONAS”
4
As part of the Second UN Global Road Safety
in Athens by the Hellenic Road Safety Institute
Week a flashmob was organized in Syntagma
(I.O.A.S) - RSI Panos Mylonas with the support
Square, Greece. It promoted the message
of the European Commission and the Europe-
“Stop Road Crashes”. The stunt was organized
an Youth Forum for Road Safety - EYFRS.
The event brought together a group of young people
mobs are organized via telecommunications, so-
on a square in Athens/Greece and the performance
cial media, or viral emails. In this case, the Flash-
of a live, orchestrated dance to grab the attention of
mob was organized to raise awareness of the
the unsuspecting and astonished public. The video
United Nations Global Road Safety Week to and of
of the event shows a crowd of dancing people on
the cause of pedestrian safety. The target group
the square performing their choreography that
were the people present in the square at the time,
transported the key message: “Stop road crashes”!
but to also leave a legacy of the event, it was
What is a Flashmob?
captured on video. Considering its huge success,
A Flashmob (or Flash mob) is created when a
the Greek Delegates will present their Flash-Mob
group of people assemble suddenly in a public
guidelines during the next edition of the EYFRS in
place. This group of people then perform an unu-
September 2013 in Crotone (Italy), for you to be
sual and seemingly pointless act for a brief time.
able to reproduce it in your country as well.
After that they quickly disperse. The purposes of
Watch the video here: Link to the video
such a Flashmob can include entertainment, sat-
EYFRS: www.eyfrs.eu
ire, advertisement and artistic expression. Flash
RSI Panos Mylonas: www.ioas.gr
RELEASE OF THE NEW WHO EUROPEAN ROAD SAFETY REPORT The “European facts and Global status re-
provement in overall fatalities but also in-
port on road safety 2013” published today
dicates that only half of the European coun-
by WHO/Europe reveals a significant im-
tries have adequate road safety laws.
The “European facts and Global status report
kab, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “How-
on road safety 2013” published today by WHO/
ever, 92 000 deaths per year is 92 000 deaths
Europe reveals significant improvement in
too many. Thanks to this report, we have a
overall fatalities but also indicates that only
clear vision of what needs to be done and also
half of the European countries have adequate
a clear vision of the human and economic ben-
road safety laws.
efits of improving road safety. We would like to
Fifty-five per cent of the European population
appeal to governments to act on this evidence,
lives in countries that do not provide com-
knowing that this course of action will pay
prehensive road safety laws on the five key
dividends in the short and long term.”
risk factors: drinking and driving, speeding,
The “European facts and Global status report
helmets, seat-belts and child restraints. The
on road safety 2013” is the second report in a
remaining 45% benefit from rapidly improving
series analysing to what extent countries are
legislative change as countries work hard to
implementing effective road safety measures.
meet the target set by the Decade of Action for
In addition to the risk factors, it highlights the
Road Safety 2011-2020.
importance of issues such as vehicle safety
The report demonstrates that improvements
standards, road infrastructure inspections and
are achievable and 40 out of 48 countries have
policies on walking and cycling. The report
reduced the number of deaths on their roads
presents information from 51 countries, ac-
in recent years.
counting for 99.4% of the European Region’s
“The improvements in road safety in the Euro-
population or 891 million people.
Photo: istock
Photo: istock
pean Region are striking,” said Zsuzsanna Ja-
THE P I L OT A R E A S O F T H E P R O J E C T SOL The project SOL shall help to prevent road
THE PILOT AREAS OF SOL:
crashes, deaths and injuries in the Central Europe
• Poland: Olsztyn, Barczewo, Nidzica
Space (CEUS). In 12 pilot areas of the 7 countries
• Czech Republic: Region of Liberec
Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slo-
• Slovakia: City of Prešov and Region of Prešov
venia, Italy and Austria targeted strategies will be
‑ Selfgovernment County
developed implementing effective programmes to
• Hungary: City of Gyor
build a transnational road safety network. Find
• Slovenia: Tolmin, Kočevje and Maribor
detailed informations to all pilot areas on the
• Italy: Province of Brescia and Mantua
website of SOL: www.sol-project.eu
• Austria: Province of Styria
POLAND
GERMANY
CZECH REPUBLIC SLOVAKIA
AUSTRIA
ITALY
HUNGARY
SLOVENIA
The SOL Countries
5
J u n e 2 0 1 3 ISSUE No. 11
S O L – A C O MPREHENSIVE ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY F O R C E N T R AL EUROPE The main goal of the project is to promote
shift from the private car to public transport.
sustainable mobility and increase awareness
SOL unites some of the most competent RS or-
for safety issues as well as contributing to the
ganisations from CEUS and worldwide, among
achievement of higher quality of living condi-
them the Global Road Safety Patnership (GRPS).
tions.
The multi-sector partners from eight countries
The approach of SOL sees Road-Safety within
of CEUS have jointly developed a strategy that
the context of sustainable mobility, i.e. to make
supports the region in catching up with highest
walking and cycling safe and to promote a modal
EU standards in Road Safety.
1 2 P R O J E C T PARTNERS FROM 8 COUNTRIES OF C E N T R A L E UROPE A.L.O.T. Agency of East Lombardy for Transport and Logistics (Italy)
University of Zilina (Slovakia)
Austrian Mobility Research FGM-AMOR (Austria)
Global Road Safety Partnership Hungary (Hungary)
Province of Styria – Traffic Department (Austria)
KTI Institute for Transport Sciences (Hungary)
University of Tuebingen, Institute of Geography (Germany)
Automobile Association of Slovenia (Slovenia)
HBH Projekt spol. s r.o. (Czech Republic)
ZAS – The Association of the Driving Schools in the Slovak Republic (Slovakia)
ITS Motor Transport Institute (Poland)
WORD Olsztyn organization (Poland)
Imprint: Texts: Alberto Milotti, A.L.O.T. (p.1 and Foreword, p. 2); All other articles collected by FGM-AMOR Design by FGM-AMOR
The project „SOL – Save our Lives“ in the Central Europe Program www.central2013.eu is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).