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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