SOL eMagazine No. 8

ISSUE No. 08 SEPTEMBER 2012

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: A.L.O.T.

SOL O N T H E C IT I E S F O R M O B I L I T Y CONFERENCE IN STUT T G A RT / G E R M A N Y

DEAR READERS

The 6th World Congress of the global net-

Stuttgart. The congress was a perfect space

Welcome to the eighth issue of the SOL project

work Cities for Mobility took place in July in

for networking and sharing of experiences,

eMagazine. In this issue we would like to put

Stuttgart focusing on safe and secure social

in an enjoyable environment. Highlights of

your attention on the important event held in

spaces. „Cities for Mobility“ is a global city

this year’s event were the thematic work-

Stuttgart in July, the annual World Congress of

network tackling questions related to urban

shops, the contact forum, and two training

the global network Cities for Mobility in which

transport coordinated by the State Capital

sessions.

we presented our project and held a specific training session on road safety.

The project SOL was presented by Alberto Milotti

which covered the road safety challenge of cra-

in the plenary session by showing to the partici-

shes involving pedestrians, cyclists, children

Then we will focus on some recent news from the

pants the replicability of good practices in road

and motorcyclists. Training packages have been

EU Commission, an important press release with

safety, deriving from the pilot experience of the

developed and delivered in all partner countries

figures on road deaths in these years, a new Euro-

project. In SOL experiences in the field of road

to produce a series of short training sections

pean legislation creating a single driver’s permit and

safety were developed in 12 pilot areas covering

designed to help non-safety professionals un-

a proposal for new vehicle testing, which the Com-

local public transport, freight transport, commu-

derstand the problems of vulnerable road users,

mission hopes could save more than 1,200 lives a

nication for young people, children education,

along with ideas about how to deal with them.

year. You can also learn more about a campaign for

drink and drive and young drivers. Main aims are

The participants were very interested in the pro-

the prevention and mitigation of potential conflicts

to raise knowledge of people on safe behaviour

gress and the outputs of the project and after

between public transport and vulnerable road users

in road traffic and to improve this behaviour by

the presentation many discussions between the

held in Brescia, the initiative “Il Mese del Pedone”.

showing them how to behave on the road. In this

SOL members and the participants continued

Enjoy reading

framework SOL also organised a training course

until the end of this successful conference.

Alberto Milotti Project Manager SOL

S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2 ISSUE No. 08

Photo: Civitas-ELAN; www.civitas.eu

YO U R S - YOUTH FOR ROAD SAFETY

“85 people still die on Europe’s roads every day. This is unac‑ ceptable. We will need to sharply intensify efforts at EU and na‑ tional level to reach our goal

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The European Commission has issued a press

Although over the last ten years there has

release that calls for immediate action on the

been a promising reduction of road deaths

number of road deaths in Europe in 2011.

across Europe of around 6 percent, this figure

What does this mean for young people?

was only 2 percent last year.

Vice-President Siim Kallas said “These figures

level, I also intend to target specifically fatali-

are a wake-up call. This is the slowest de-

ties on motorcycles in 2012. We need to see

crease in road deaths in a decade. 85 people

the current trend reversed and these deaths

still die on Europe’s roads every day. This is

start to fall.”

of cutting road fatalities in half

unacceptable. We will need to sharply intensify

Work to implement the EU’s Road Safety Action

again by 2020”.

efforts at EU and national level to reach our

Plan 2011-2020 is set to intensify. In addition,

goal of cutting road fatalities in half again by

Vice-President Kallas announced his intention

2020. I am writing to ministers in all Member

to bolster efforts in national enforcement and

States to ask for information about national

to target vulnerable road users using motorcy-

road safety enforcement plans for 2012. I want

cles.

to be reassured that even in tough economic

This has particular implications for young peo-

times this important work, which is so central

ple. Road traffic crashes are the biggest killer

to road safety, is not being scaled back. At EU

of young people across the world. The slow-

ing of the reduction of road fatalities means

Road Safety in Europe network is also working

that more young people are dying on Europe’s

to change the statistics in the European Com-

roads. The positive news is that young people

mission’s warning, to engage young people

across Europe are doing something about this,

in road safety and to reduce deaths amongst

including organising the European Youth Forum

young people on Europe’s roads.

The Youth For Road Safety in Europe network is also working to change the statistics in the

for Road Safety and various actions by youth

European Commission’s war‑

and road safety organisations around Europe.

ning, to engage young people

In July the Fourth European Road Safety Day

in road safety and to reduce

was held, with a special focus on Young Peo-

Source and more info:

deaths amongst young people

ple’s Involvement in Road Safety. The Youth For

http://www.youthforroadsafety.org

on Europe’s roads.

REAS O N S O F I M PA I R M E N T F O R D RIVING Motorists in Europe must meet minimum

from country to country. That will change in

standards of physical and mental fitness to

2013, with new European legislation creating

obtain a driving licence, but the rules vary

a single driver’s permit.

EU law has been revised to allow people with

In 2006, the EU launched the four-year DRUID

epilepsy, diabetes and other diseases that can

project to study how the use of mind-altering

affect driving to continue to drive if their con-

(“psychoactive”) drugs affects skill behind

ditions can be controlled.

the wheel. One of the largest such efforts in

Professional drivers are subject to stricter

Europe to date, the €18m project involves re-

controls of their physical and mental fitness.

searchers in more than 20 countries.

The new laws will require that they undergo a

Of course the police must also be able to de-

medical check every five years.

tect drug use. A recent EU-US study (ROSITA)

Drinking, drugs and driving

trialed nine drug-testing devices which use

Driving under the influence of alcohol or

saliva samples – one was found reliable

drugs is a factor in nearly 25% of crashes

enough for roadside screening.

and claims about 10 000 lives in Europe every

Fatigue

year. Most of these accidents involve alcohol,

Fatigue is a factor in 10-20% of road acci-

but other substances – medicine as well as

dents. Professional lorry drivers in particular

illegal drugs – are a growing problem. All EU

are at risk of being involved in a fatigue-relat-

countries have limits on the amount of alcohol

ed crash. EU law limits the time these drivers

drivers can consume. For other drugs, legal

are allowed to work.

thresholds have yet to be imposed, partly

One way to reduce such accidents could be

because the risks are not fully understood.

to equip vehicles with monitoring systems to

Determining the danger becomes more com-

alert drivers who show signs of dropping off.

plicated when different drugs are used in

The EU project AWAKE developed guidelines

combination – feared to be a growing trend.

for these systems.

Picture: iSTOCK

Picture: iSTOCK

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S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2 ISSUE No. 08

Photo: A.L.O.T.

“ I L M ESE DI PEDONE” CAMPAIGN IN ITALY

Picture: A.L.O.T.

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“Il Mese del Pedone” Campaign is part of a

for Transport and Logistics. SOL activities in

wider SOL pilot initiative under implementa-

the Province of Brescia are addressing public

tion in the Province of Brescia (Italy) under the

transport safety issues and the safety of vul-

guidance of ALOT – Agency of East Lombardy

nerable road users.

This pilot has integrated road safety inspections of

with the aim of providing road safety education to

existing bus stops with awareness raising of dan-

pupils aged from 6 to 11 years old. A brochure on

gerous situations involving different road users, in

how to safely behave in traffic as pedestrian with

particular the vulnerable ones such as pedestrians

supporting educational material on how to recog-

and cyclists, in proximity of dedicated bus stops.

nize potential dangerous situations in traffic has

Prevention and mitigation of potential conflicts be-

been produced and distributed to children. A dedi-

tween public transport and vulnerable road users

cated website has been also established in order

are key components of the pilot and the initiative “Il

to widespread this initiative. (see http://www.alot.

Mese del Pedone” seeks to raise public awareness

it/ilmesedelpedone/promotori.php ) Launch of the

on road safety, sustainable mobility and public

campaign took place in Brescia in April 2012 with a

transport. The Campaign was conceived by ALOT

press conference followed by a demonstrative ac-

in cooperation with some of the most active local

tion done by children. Students of primary schools

SOL stakeholders such as the Province of Brescia

posted their safety and mobility messages on an

and the Educational Territorial Department. It tar-

old fashion Fiat500 and they also “fined” improp-

gets to primary schools in the Province of Brescia

erly parked cars.

EUROP E A N C O M M I S S I O N S E E K S TO UGHER ROAD SAFET Y R U L E S The European Commission is proposing tough-

and scooters. The move comes as the number

er vehicle testing rules that for the first time

of road deaths spiked in recent months.

would require inspections of all motorcycles Commission Vice President Siim Kallas revealed

Statistics show that the likelihood of technical

the proposed measures on Friday (13 July) amid

failure increases dramatically after five years.

“worrying increases” in highway fatalities after

Cars and light commercial vehicles of up to 3.5

a decline of close to 50% over a decade.

tonnes which have more than 160,000 km after

Kallas also unveiled new vehicle testing propos-

four years would then have to undergo yearly

als, which the Commission hopes could save

inspections. The Commission also proposed EU-

more than 1,200 lives a year and prevent a fur-

wide minimum standards for vehicle inspection

ther 36,000 accidents linked to technical failure.

and a clamping down on mileage fraud.

Testing for scooters and motorbikes would be-

The EU recorded 30,900 roadway fatalities - in-

come compulsory across the EU under the new

cluding pedestrians - in 2011. In 2009, the lat-

legislation, since two-wheelers are the highest

est figures available, motorcyclists accounted

risk group among road users, the EU executive

for 16% of fatalities, 20% were pedestrians, and

said.

47% were in cars.

If approved, the directive would require nine

Next steps by 2016

countries that do not inspect motorcycles and

Vehicle testing proposal to be implemented fol-

scooters to do so. Under a new ‘roadworthiness

lowing the agreement of the European Parlia-

package’ old vehicles and those with exception-

ment and European Council.

ally high mileage would be required to undergo

Find more on:

a first test after four years, then every 2 years

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/in-

after.

dex_en.htm

Photo: FGM

Photo: FGM

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

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S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2 ISSUE No. 08

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. (p1. and Foreword); A.L.O.T. (P. 4), All other articles colected 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).

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