SOL eMagazine No11

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).