ISSUE No. 07 MAY 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
Picture: Andrej Buday, ZAS
SOL O N T H E C IT I E S F O R C H I L D R E N CONFERENCE IN GR A Z / A U S T R I A
DEAR READERS
A small international expert group of 20 rep-
Safety” to exchange experiences concerning
Welcome to the seventh issue of the SOL pro-
resentatives of various working areas met in
safety for children in traffic and discuss how
ject eMagazine. In this issue we would like to
Graz, Austria at the meeting of the Cities for
to ensure children’s needs in urban planning.
put our attention on the recent event held in Graz, the annual Conference of the Association
Children Network Working Group “Traffic and
Cities for Children in Graz and its relationship By a Mobile-Tour through Graz the SOL part-
of this meeting. Due to the fact that know-
ners had the chance to view some examples
ledge transfer is the goal of the 10 tool pre-
of successful implemented road safety ac-
sentations, J. Heinrich from HBH Projekt and
You can also read about recent findings that state
tions, such as shared space, housing streets
a representative of the City of Dublin, Nuala
that using smartphones behind the wheel is more
and the Bicycle Training for children in real
Nic Gioburin, are staying in touch after this
dangerous than drink and drive.
traffic environments called Radfahrtraining
meeting and exchanging their experiences in
In this current issue, you can also learn more about
(see picture above). Furthermore the mem-
road safety.
one of our Austrian partner, the Traffic Department
bers of the SOL network, A. Buday, J. Hein-
After this meeting SOL was also present at
of the Province of Styria and some of its activities
rich and P. Hammer held a tool presentation
the Annual Cities for Children Conference in
in road safety and their work within SOL. The focus
about road safety for children, one out of 10
May 2012, with a stand and information such
will describe the new Styrian Road Safety Program
tool presentations, with the goal to represent
as flyer, posters etc. about the SOL project.
(Steirisches Verkehrssicherheitsprogramm), which
replicable road safety measures in one certain
Therefore this meeting in Graz was an impor-
was released in this year.
road safety field. These measures also display
tant foundation for the future promotion of the
Enjoy reading
worldwide applicable good practices.
Cities for Children Conference.
Alberto Milotti Project Manager SOL
In this purpose a slight success can be listed
with SOL project and our transnational network.
M a y 2 0 1 2 ISSUE No. 07
Picture: FGM-AMOR
U S I N G SMARTPHONES BEHIND THE WHEEL IS M O R E DANGEROUS THAN DRINK DRIVING Using smartphones for social networking
Motorists). Despite this, eight per cent of
while driving is more dangerous than drink
drivers admit to using smartphones for
driving or being high on cannabis behind
email and social networking while driving
Twenty-four per cent of 17-24
the wheel according to research published
– equivalent to 3.5 million licence holders.
year old drivers – a group al-
today by the IAM (Institute of Advanced
ready at higher risk of being in a crash – admit to using smartphones for email and social networking while driving.
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Twenty-four per cent of 17-24 year old drivers
• reaction times slowed by around 38% and
– a group already at higher risk of being in a
participants often missed key events;
crash – admit to using smartphones for email
• participants were unable to maintain a cen-
and social networking while driving.
tral lane position resulting in an increased
For their research, the IAM and TRL (Transport
number of unintentional lane departures; and
Research Laboratory) used DigiCar – TRL’s car
• were unable to respond as quickly to the car
driving simulator – to examine the effects of
in front gradually changing speed.
young drivers using smartphones to access fa-
When comparing these new results to previ-
cebook. In every test of driving performance,
ous studies the level of impairment on driving
young people who were using facebook while
is greater than the effects of drinking, can-
driving were badly affected.4 When sending
nabis and texting.
and receiving facebook messages:
• Using a smartphone for social networking
slows reaction times by 37.6 per cent;
working and it’s more dangerous than drink
• texting slows reaction times by 37.4 per
driving and it must become just as socially
cent;
unacceptable.
• hands-free mobile phone conversation
“Young people have grown up with smart-
slows reaction times by 26.5 per cent;
phones and using them is part of everyday
• cannabis slows reaction times by 21 per
life. But more work needs to be done by the
cent;
government and social network providers to
• alcohol (above UK driving limit but below
show young people that they are risking their
100mg per 100ml of blood) slows reaction
lives and the lives of others if they use their
time by between six and 15 per cent; and
smartphones while driving.”
• alcohol at the legal limit slows reaction
TRL senior researcher Nick Reed said: “Our
times by 12.5 per cent.
research clearly demonstrates that driver
The IAM is calling for government action to
behaviour was significantly and dramatically
highlight the dangers of using smartphones
impaired when a smartphone was being used
behind the wheel. Phone manufacturers and
for social networking. Drivers spent more time
social network providers also have a key role
looking at their phone than the road ahead
to play in spreading the message. Attitudes to
when trying to send messages, rendering the
seatbelts and drink driving have changed dra-
driver blind to emerging hazards and the de-
matically over the last thirty years, and, with
veloping traffic situation.
the right information, halting smartphone use
“Even when hazards were detected, the driv-
could become a similar success story.
er’s ability to respond was slowed. The com-
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “This re-
bination of observed impairments to driving
search shows how incredibly dangerous using
will cause a substantial increase in the risk of
smartphones while driving is, yet unbelievably
a collision that may affect not only the driver
it is a relatively common practice. If you’re
but also their passengers and other road us-
taking your hand off the wheel to use the
ers. Smartphones are incredibly useful and
phone, reading the phone display and thinking
convenient tools when used appropriately and
about your messages, then you’re simply not
responsibly. Their use for social networking
concentrating on driving. It’s antisocial net-
when driving is neither.”
Picture: iSTOCK
Picture: FGM-AMOR
Drivers spent more time looking at their phone than the road ahead when trying to send messages, rendering the driver blind to emerging hazards and the developing traffic situation.
Picture: Fotolia
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M a y 2 0 1 2 ISSUE No. 07
Picture: FGM-AMOR
T h e S tyrian Road Safety Prog ramme 2011-2020 The new Styrian Road Safety Programme 2011
The Number of road fatalities was able to be
– 2020 (RSP) is built upon the first Road Safety
reduced by 55% since the year 2000. The
Programme 2004-2010 which has already pro-
Number of road accidents in Styria has also
vided important successes for Road Safety.
decreased by 20%.
These measures are supple-
Within the tasks of the Road Safety advisory
The long-term goal is to create a traffic cultural
mented by a comprehensive
Board, which was established in 2003, the strate-
awareness in which people work together re-
gic orientation of the RSP 2011-2020 was decid-
sponsibly.
ed and measures for the next 10 years developed.
• The Framework of the new RSP 2011-2020
The Road Safety work will focus on following
Main objectives: Reduce fatalities by 50 %, re-
points in the next few years:
duce casualties by 40 % and reduce accidents
• High risk behaviour
with people injured by 20%.
• Personal responsibility
Strategy of the new RSP: Three areas in which
Road Safety work by the police and the implementation of measures in communities. The Federal State of Styria is a national pioneer in the development of Road Safety strategies
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• Active networking and cooperation with all
to intervene and in which measures must be
and their operational implemen-
responsible decision makers, stakeholders
set in order to achieve the main objectives: (1)
tation.
and interested people concerning Road Safety.
Creating awareness, (2) Infrastructure and (3)
The networking with the communities and their
Legislature & Surveillance. 10 topic fields
commitment for Road Safety are important con-
cover the areas in which risks and problems
tributions for the implementation of the RSP.
concerning road safety can occur. 67 meas-
• Creating and promoting traffic culture
ures are defined within these topic fields.
THE SO L P I L OT A R E A S : T H E P R OV I NCE OF STYRIA/ AUSTR I A The pilot area Styria (Steiermark) is a federal-
16,401 km². Styria borders Slovenia in the
state or Bundesland, located in the southeast
South, as well as the other Austrian states of
of Austria. In Austria it is the second largest
Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Bur-
of the nine Austrian federal-states, covering
genland and Carinthia.
The population (as of 1.1.2011) was 1,210.614
cidents to 20%, the number of deaths to 50%
and the capital city is Graz. Styria has a total
and the number of casualties to 40%.
of 458.96 km of highways and motorways,
The distribution of this Road Safety Pro-
thus possessing the second longest highway
gramme will be focused on local level to in-
and motorway network in Austria.
tensify road safety work and to raise aware-
72 people were killed on Styrian streets in
ness concerning the risks on the streets. To
2011. This is the lowest number of deaths
communicate the Road Safety Programme,
since the beginning of recording. Neverthe-
training workshops for stakeholders will be
less the Government of Styria wants to reduce
held in three Styrian regions (Leibnitz, Kap-
accident deaths within the next years further-
fenberg, Graz-Umgebung). Within these work-
more.
shops the strategy and the targets of the Road
Within SOL a Styrian Road Safety Programme
Safety Programme should be disseminated
was developed (2011-2020) by the Govern-
and the stakeholders motivated to implement
ment of Styria (FA 18a – Traffic department).
road safety measures within their community
The Road Safety Programme for the next 10
or regions.
Picture: FGM
Picture: FGM
years has the aim to reduce the number of ac-
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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M a y 2 0 1 2 ISSUE No. 07
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. (Foreword); Katherina Mayser, University of Tuebingen (p.1); Provided by GRSP (p.2/3); Maria KnauerLukas, Province of Styria and Elke Weiss, FGM-AMOR (p.4/5) 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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