The Voice of Mobile Consumers in Europe

Page 1

Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile European Bureau

The Voice of Mobile Consumers in Europe


x x

2

At a glance: 1. Founded in Paris in 1904, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) represents the interests of motoring organisations and their members worldwide. 2. The FIA brings together over 221 national motoring and touring clubs in 132 countries worldwide. We represent the mobility interests of over 114 million members.

5. In Europe, the FIA Eurocouncil unites 71 national motoring and touring clubs from 47 countries. We represent 35 million mobile consumers using cars, motorcycles, bicycles, public transport or going on foot as pedestrians. 6. The FIA Eurocouncil is the registered interest representative of European motoring and touring clubs and their members to the European institutions. We also hold observer status with the Council of Europe.

3. Whilst maximising the societal benefits and affordability of mobility, the FIA aims to make it more sustainable, as well as more efficient, safer, more reliable and comfortable.

7. The European Bureau of the FIA Eurocouncil develops common platforms to defend mobile consumer interests and makes sure their voice is heard in Europe.

4. Worldwide, the FIA contributes to the work of international organisations such as the World Health Organisation, International Transport Forum, World Tourism Organisation and the United Nation’s working parties on safer roads and global technical regulations.

8. To achieve our goals, the FIA European Bureau participates in projects and campaigns such as Euro NCAP, EuroTest, the Right to Repair Campaign and eSafety Aware. We make extensive use of these educational and information campaigns to share expertise.


Foreword We are the leading consumer mobility organisation in Europe. Improving our daily mobility must remain a top priority for national and European policy makers. Better vehicles, infrastructure and driver behaviour are key to citizens’ mobility. This goal requires sufficient political and financial support for the development of appropriate infrastructures, technologies and legal frameworks. The future of mobility must be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat. Faced with a lack of attractive alternatives, Europeans choose to make the vast majority of their journeys by car. All policies affecting citizens’ mobility must then acknowledge the economic and social importance of the car. The mobile consumer must be at the centre of European policy making.

Contents

The inmeasures penal motorists. troduction We are impact European committed of s on the enforcement tomob ensur ilitying of and or that di nary the

EU citizens for cross also border provides involved criminal suffic proceedings. as ient suspec procedural tsdefendants or safeguards in

Equal t become must reatment between a realitynationals in legalandproceedings. EU citizens

Legislative tymeasures overcome unfamiliari the of the language national shoulddifficulties law be by introduced non-nat and the ive to

defendant not int erpretation limited s. These to and - the safeguards translation, ri ght to include le ga c ommunication, l advice, - but frare ee aspecial written p rotection communication for vulnerable of rights.persons as well as

septe mbe r 2 009

FIA at a glance Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile European Bureau www.eurotestmobility.com

www.eurotap.eu

www.r2rc.eu

www.erscharter.eu

www.euroncap.com

www.eurorap.net

The Voice of Mobile Consumers in Europe

Foreword

The FIA Euro pean Bureau and its member c lubs are

x

Foreword

x

We are the leading consumer mobility organisation in Europe. Improving our daily mobility must remain a top priority for national and European policy makers. Better vehicles, infrastructure and driver behaviour are key to citizens’ mobility. This goal requires sufficient political and financial support for the development of appropriate infrastructures, technologies and legal frameworks. The future of mobility must be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat.

1. Founded in Paris in 1904, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) represents the interests of motoring organisations and their members worldwide. 2. The FIA brings together over 221 national motoring and touring clubs in 132 countries worldwide. We represent the mobility interests of over 114 million members.

What we stand for, our vision Mobility Environment Consumer Protection Road Safety

Projects

5. In Europe, the FIA Eurocouncil unites 71 national motoring and touring clubs from 47 countries. We represent 35 million mobile consumers using cars, motorcycles, bicycles, public transport or going on foot as pedestrians. 6. The FIA Eurocouncil is the registered interest representative of European motoring and touring clubs and their members to the European institutions. We also hold observer status with the Council of Europe. 7. The European Bureau of the FIA Eurocouncil develops common platforms to defend mobile consumer interests and makes sure their voice is heard in Europe.

4. Worldwide, the FIA contributes to the work of international organisations such as the World Health Organisation, International Transport Forum, World Tourism Organisation and the United Nation’s working parties on safer roads and global technical regulations.

8. To achieve our goals, the FIA European Bureau participates in projects and campaigns such as Euro NCAP, EuroTest, the Right to Repair Campaign and eSafety Aware. We make extensive use of these educational and information campaigns to share expertise.

Sustainable mobility is an important enabler of social and economic welfare. It sustains quality of life and is a factor of economic growth. This important basic right must be protected and further enhanced. The FIA European Bureau and its member clubs are committed to making Mobility for All a reality. We want to see a strategy developed for a European mobility that ensures a safe, sustainable and accessible transport system so as to meet the needs of people everywhere. Free movement of people is one of the defining features of the European Union. Access to mobility is essential for all citizens’ economic activities, social interactions and wellbeing. We believe that citizens should benefit from a transport system designed and managed according to their needs, taking into account social, economic and environmental aspects in a balanced way. Mobility contributes to social integration by reducing the geographical handicap of peripheral countries and regions hence bringing EU citizens closer together. Whilst the most common transport modes include the car, motorcycle, public transport, walking and cycling, one cannot ignore that the passenger car has become the preferred choice for the vast majority of European citizens. It is unrivalled due to its ability to allow for independent mobility and convenience. Its importance to society will

FIA at a glance

continue to grow as the balance between social costs and benefits becomes increasingly positive. We believe that all modes of transport should be promoted according to their intrinsic strengths. A key challenge for society in the 21st century is clearly to accommodate the desire for individual transport while reducing, and even eliminating, the negative impacts of car-based mobility. This requires citizens to be offered appropriate, affordable and reliable mobility choices. At the same time financial incentives should be put in place to encourage sustainable mobility, rather than penalties that punish mobility altogether. To sustain this objective the FIA European Bureau coordinates consumer protection activities among the clubs that carry out tests in the whole field of mobility. We examine key criteria such as usability, safety, environmental sustainability and costs. With results published in club magazines throughout Europe, some 35 million motorists receive neutral and objective information when making their mobility choices. Publication of test results also introduces a spirit of healthy competition in both industry and public authorities, helping at the same time to initiate continuous improvement.

All modes of transport come together in cities

1

Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile European Bureau

The Voice of Mobile Consumers in Europe

Foreword

Foreword

x

We are the leading consumer mobility organisation in Europe. Improving our daily mobility must remain a top priority for national and European policy makers. Better vehicles, infrastructure and driver behaviour are key to citizens’ mobility.

x

This goal requires sufficient political and financial support for the development of appropriate infrastructures, technologies and legal frameworks. The future of mobility must be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat.

1. Founded in Paris in 1904, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) represents the interests of motoring organisations and their members worldwide.

5. In Europe, the FIA Eurocouncil unites 71 national motoring and touring clubs from 47 countries. We represent 35 million mobile consumers using cars, motorcycles, bicycles, public transport or going on foot as pedestrians.

2. The FIA brings together over 221 national motoring and touring clubs in 132 countries worldwide. We represent the mobility interests of over 114 million members.

6. The FIA Eurocouncil is the registered interest representative of European motoring and touring clubs and their members to the European institutions. We also hold observer status with the Council of Europe.

FIA at a glance in Europe

x

Foreword

x

We areythe mobilit Improving organisation our leading dailyconsumer inmobility Europe. hicles, mustn ation for policy remain makers. al an Baetter dtopEuropean vep riority infrast ructure behavio mobility. ur are keyand to citizens’ driver

This goal requires sufficient politica l an d

financial appropriate and legalsupport frameworks. infrastruc for the tures,The developme techno futurelnt o gieofs

2

At a glance: Founded in Paris in 1904, the Fédération 1.

Contents 5.

In Europe, the FIA Eurocouncil unites

Internationale represents organisations the de and interests l’Automobile theirof motoring me mbers (FIA)

71 national from million 47mobile countries. motoring consumers We and represe touring usingntclubs cars, 35

mobility rather than must a threat. be seen as a n op por tu nity 1

Faced Europeans of theirwith journeys choose a lackbyto ofcar. make attAll ractpolicies the ive vast alternatives, affecting majority cit izens’ economic The mobmobility ileand consumer social mustimportance must th en be acknowledge at the of cent the rethe car. of

FIA at a glance Foreword European We are copmmit olic y ted making. to achievi ng sustainable

T he FIA brings together over 221 national worldwide. 2.

motorcycles, or going on bicycles, foot public as pe destrians. transport

What we stand for, our vision mobility.ment develop mobility, consumer We ofarepoactively licies protec aimed tion, atinvolved vehicl improving e and in the

motoring worldwide. countries and touring We clubs represent in 132 the

6.

representative The FIA Eurocouncil of isEuropean the registered motoring interest

Enviro nment Mobility Consumer Protection infrastr pro tection. ucture

mobility interests of over 114 million members.

and European the observe touring r status clubs with institutions. and the Council theirWemembers of also Europe. hold to

safety

and

environmental

Road Safety The of wealth area FIAof mobilit European knowledge y. As such member and, we experience offer clubscobnsu oast in me thear-

Whilst and 3. to make affordability maximising it more of sustainable, mobility, the societal the asFIA benefits wellaims as 7.

Eurocouncil The European develops Bureau common of platforms the FIA

more efficient, safer, more reliable and comfortable.

to defend makes suremobile the ir voice consumer is heard interests in Europe. and

Worldwide, work 4. of international the FIA contributes organisations to the 8.

Projects oriented expertise transp ort. political, to meet ctechnical hallenges and in theprac field tical of Member Clubs

Bureau To achieve participate our goals, s inthe projects FIA European and

such as the International Tourism OrgaWor ld nisation Transport He althand Or Forum, ganis the United World ation,

campaigns the Aware. Right Wetosuch make Re pair asextensive Campaign Euro NCAP, use andEofuroTest, eSafety these

Nation’s roa ds and working global technical partie s regulations. on safer

educational share expe rtise.and information campaigns to

Werner Kraus

President of Austrian ChaAutomobile ir ma n of FIAClub Eurocou ÖAMTC nci l

Fuelefficient cars

What we stand for, our vision Mobility Environment Consumer Protection Road Safety

MOBILITY KEY ENABLER OF WELFARE AND PROSPERITY Sustainab is a factor of le econom mobility ic is growth. an imporThis tantimpo enabler rta ntofbsocial asic r ight andmu econom st b e protected ic we lfar e.and It sust further ainsenha quality nced. of life and

ENVIRONMENT TO A CLEAN MOBILITY

in FIA’s Ecotour part icipating

Byward to making s cleaner appropriate and mochoices re efficient co nsum mobility. ers co ntribu te

Clean and Energy E f À c ient Cars Currently techno logiesnew and vehicle fuels aredesign, being dpropulsi evelo ped. on cle arly to a ccommo da te the desir e f or stindividual centur y is

t raizen neg cit nsp at ive sortto impact while be offer reduc s of car-base eding, appr and opr d mobilit eve iat ne,eliminating, affor y. This darequir ble and the es

r eliable incent sust ainable ives mobility shmobility, ould choices. b e rput ather At tinhetha psame la n ce penalties to time encourage financial tha t

punsusta To ish mobilit in thisyob alt je oget ctivher. e th e FIA Euro pean Bur eau tcoor mobili he cldinat ubs ty. es We t haconsume et xamin car ry eout rkprote eyt est criter ctio s iniant such he a ctivities whole as usa amon field bili ty, of g 2

rsaf Europe, esul ety, ts environ publi someshed mental 3 5 minillion sustainability clu bmotorists mag azines an r eceive dthrougho cost neutral s. Wi th ut

andodu mobili intr obj tyces ective choice a spirs.infor it Publication o fmat healt ionhy whe compet of n t estmaking itresult ion ins tbo al heiso thr

tindust ime t oryinit a ndiate p ub c onti lic aut nuous horitim ies, prov helping em ent. at the same All modes of transport come together incities

Nevertheless techno be further logies, d eployed. already together This available with mustecodriving, be state the objective of need the art to of

future ceff energy phase an efficient. orts boost to innovation Financial make mobili incentives . ty cleaner in the andlaumore nch the 2 model furthdeveloped er CO reduction b y ADAC efforts shows throug h Aemissions COneed for 2 ex tech nologi sive car data fleets.recal searc The measures. hmodel on exis ting It amines isEuro based pean theon peffec assenger exttenof

different fuel types, factor consumer s such as the demand share of patterns, different and

tech It shows nological that,devel whileopments. the need ed technolo gies are scenario. fleet emission t arget under a “business as usual” 2 availab le, Eur ope would miss its 2012 average CO

Ai r Quality and Noise Progressive techno driver behaviou logiesmeasures together r need wit add to hbe ressing road combined infrastructur vehicletoand achieve e fuel and the most cost-beneficial Pollution from road transport energy efficiency has significantly gain s. 2 e missio ns decreased in veh iclesinand recent fuelyears technology. following CO improvements

have remained kept improvements growi ng.arestable However still n ecessary. while further traffic breakthrough has steadily

Calls air quality for measures and noise areremain being made a problem. in many Priorit citiesyas needs poor to be given However, effectiveness, if necessar tothey measures, should y restrictions that be asdo limited should not restrict asbe possible tested mobilit and fory.

not be discriminatory to non-nationals.

Infrastructure and Traf

c À

Road infrastructure measures represent an and underexploited traffic management opportunity

for energylinks infrastructure missing efficiency isand needreduce gains. ed to Mo remove congestion. re inv bott estment lenTelematic ecinksr oa and d

3

systems to improve andefficient integrated energy mobility use. planning w ill help

Testi ng and Informing The th inform and FIAeir consumers Euconseq ropeanuent about Bureau effect available andonthe the mobility member environment. choic clubs es EcoTest sold them in Europe choose measures and environment the offers e mis consally sions umers friendly ofanew dv ice cvehicl arhelping s being es.

Being and consumers the independent source user-friendly of the from us ed information the ener p ropulsion gy, the through test tecpr hno aovides logy star

rating.

By organising of that, thebymost applying fu EcoTour el aefficient fewrallies ecodriving cand ars basic we fieldtesting demonstrated rules, some fuel consumption 30%. necessar They results technologies could of the be to EcoTour reduced achieve ral by lies the aconfirm fur objective ther that 20are to

within reach.

Theiscost car a big ofpart running oft he and consumers’ maintaining budget a

CONSUMERS PROTECTING THEIR INTERESTS AND RIGHTS The defence ensure tha t consumers of mobile consumers’ ar e fairly treated interests andmust that their lie atright the shear a ndtliberties of today’ are s society. respected. Po licy makers should

Our vision of Consumers’ Rights:

Tourism & P assenger Rights

t cChoice o onsumers f goods- and Free have services competition sufficient choice must inensu the re supply thatmutual Tour w he th ism erunder isin at er k stan ey msge of ding nebusiness ratbor et wee of odeman nr lei natsure. ions. d for ItHoweve mobility deepe nsr Safety t to mobilit - Ally consumer should be goods inherent and ly safe ser vices linked cont societ app roach inyueastofoatbe ouri w ne hole sm, fit so mu from t stha tthe de Eur velo opean positive p a Regions sust econ ainable omic can

Value - Free t among them choice must of suppliers ensure and thatcompeti consumers t ion The imp act F IAofEuro tourpe ism aninBth urea e yea u and rs t othe commember e. clu bs t Ireceive nformation value-for Con money sumers require detailed and pub rwigh elcome ts lic tr of anspor the mo biintlecresyconsumers asing stems,atte w heth ntas ionerpa given air, sse ng r ail, to ers the b of us

Givenofnew these use the personal technologies, increasing data isinfo restricted wermation seek toex gathered ensure clusivelythby to at

cl early for policy specified solutions and that legitimate take users’ purp oses. needs We into call

To sustain this objective the FIA European Bureau coordinates consumer protection activities among the clubs that carry out tests in the whole field of mobility. We examine key criteria such as usability, safety, environmental sustainability and costs. With results published in club magazines throughout Europe, some 35 million motorists receive neutral and objective information when making their mobility choices. Publication of test results also introduces a spirit of healthy competition in both industry and public authorities, helping at the same time to initiate continuous improvement.

Roadfour sers call measures shouldimpr toknow ov etheir driver rights s’ education and d uties. andWe Standardised technical repair open access and mai to all ntenance vehicle manufact information ure rs’

informed ch Redress t - oice. When things go wro ng, e asily fviorew, the e nfo f ut rure ceable of co-modality. r ig hts for passenge rs are essen t ial

Newclosely We Technologies follow le gisla & Data tio n aroun Protection d Radio accessible must be available redress and comp en sation processes Fr eque Ne Sy stwems t ncy echnologies (IT S) Idcan entifiinccat such rea ion s e(Rathe FID) s Int efficiency and elligent digital ofTtransport, ranspor r ights.t

5

the design of the right signalisation on European roads.

Taxation The tax burden immense. treasuries. Mot However, oristsput contribute little on mobile is reinvested billions consumers to nati in onal the is

by ever yto access services for after-market afford consumers. able operator maintenan Similarly,is ce liberalisation vitaland to ensu repaof reir

the addressed be consumer market chofor ices. to car preserve spare safety parts and mustaffordable urgently

Fair Contrac contractu t the legal relations al trelations Terms hip -bare Well etween needed defined consumers tostandards ensureand that for r educe con ge stio n a nd impr ove transp ort saf et y.

improvement safet y or environment of Europe’s to t hemo users’ bility benefit. infrastruc ture,

Justice and Home Affairs

suppli ers is well-balanced and fair Fu rther increases charges are not of justified. total revenues Whilst supportive of taxes and to

taxat ionthat consumption believe models any anchanges d reflecting environwithin mental traffic fiscal performan safety, systemsenergy ceneed we

Competition Issues to be fair to consumers and revenue neu tral. A car is a highly maintained and serviced complex according pro duct that to stringent must be

safety and insured against environmen damage to talthird standards parties. as well as As Europ in t he leading e, we areconsumer committed mobilit to ensuring y organisati choice, on

Consumers evaluating rentalcarson offer

ROAD SAFETY - FIVESTAR CARS ON FIVE STAR ROADS WITH FIVE STAR DRIVERS

Projects and co-operations

Ro ad safety together withmust strong rema leadinership a top and priority: backed 40,00 0 annu by benchmarking al road deaths are prer areequisites unacc e ptable. for impro Amb itiveme nt. ous targets

Safe Systems

Sa fer D rive rs

Road An efficient Safetypisolic a yresponsibility must addressofusers, all stakeholders. vehic les and

Safer Vehicles infrastructures within a safe systems approach.

The FaIAleEuro play adi ngpe ran oleB urea i n pro u and moti the ng awareness member clu and bs

r esponsi e ar du e cat aimed ion bility , atraining t encoura amongand ging all road safe information driuser vi ng s . pr thr Campaigns actough ic es

We promote road users, vehicle notablydesigns pedestr that iansprotect and cyclists vulnerable as

as ety vulner saf we llabl communic ase life ro adlong user atiolea n. s rn areing. keyHig target h risks groups of our road and

well astosafe technologies need be and inc rapidly luding easy-to-use dep drloyedchild to iverrestraints. thassist e benefit anceNew and of eCof all trnce We offe oo ecognise lssaava s anilable an instenforcement rum for ent m odifying among po licy the driver pr availabl oportional behaviour. e range to consumers. be improvedInformatio . n promoting their use has to

Safer aImprovements pillar ofRoads road safety in road which infrastr hasucture the potential constit ute for

Penety. and saf alt bey policie desig ne ssh d ou tolde ffe be ctively tr ansp arent, co nt ribute appl ied t o fairly r oad

E uropean Road Safety Char ter

FIA and its membe r clubs yearly test mobility of and and service benchmark s to related the bene a products number fit of consumers. projects and advocate and Through alliances for qualit we concrete define y and safety standards consumers dese rve. we believe By raising varied initiatives pub lic awareness support ou ther rights be interests. fairlyoftreated mobileand consumers defe nd their to

Ultimately, provide all transport these users initiatives with

Toad he rtFer IA fo E urop r the ea firnstBt ureau ime in s20 igned 05. Inthe 2009 Road the Safety Bureau maj oraltroad casu y reduction safety gains. strategies Analysis of national showr oad that rCha

concrete They pub licfurther debate advice stimu on about late theiramobility. the healthy best

r ene clu have bswed at onswe join its commitme rethis d tinitia he c tive. all nt and toNume encour sinrous gned agemember a llthe its membe Char clubs t er.r infrastruc casualt in vehicles y redu ture andction i mprovements road-user compared behavio deli to ur.improvement Roads ver tmust he sgreatest

ways to tackle identified failings.

be accident) an accident self explanat occurand s). ory forgiving (reducing (protecting the likelihood when an of Layout and maintenance of

By fclu ur ther bs joincommit ing pr o mote t het oRoad the unde n eed Safety rt aketoconcrete rCh educe arterroad act the iocasualties. ns mea mber nd to

7

www.m akecars green.org

roa ds aressential e to safety

www.esafetyaware.eu www.f ot-net.eu

www.icarsnetwork.eu www.ecotes t.eu

Projects

We are committed to achieving sustainable mobility. We are actively involved in the development of policies aimed at improving mobility, consumer protection, vehicle and infrastructure safety and environmental protection.

account the consumers’ and effectively benefit. tackle privacy issues, for

À are cac tive in ensuring that the right legal Traf We framework in highway Europe. codes We is established and support trafficimprove gsigns. reater to harmonisat road safetyion of affordability warrant ies when andconsumers the necessary buy a car.

reliable goods p erformance and information services, and costs their as to in safety, the orderenvironmental availability t o make of an tpub orow ards licise ma rittheir d ime. rules paAsse regar seng t er din ofs must gwidely oper beatestablish ors’ underst dut yoo edof d. Incand oare ur 4

6

FIAexperience of clubs in Europe and draw knowledge on a great gained depth as

7. The European Bureau of the FIA Eurocouncil develops common platforms to defend mobile consumer interests and makes sure their voice is heard in Europe. 8. To achieve our goals, the FIA European Bureau participates in projects and campaigns such as Euro NCAP, EuroTest, the Right to Repair Campaign and eSafety Aware. We make extensive use of these educational and information campaigns to share expertise.

continue to grow as the balance between social costs and benefi ts becomes increasingly positive. We believe that all modes of transport should be promoted according to their intrinsic strengths. A key challenge for society in the 21st century is clearly to accommodate the desire for individual transport while reducing, and even eliminating, the negative impacts of car-based mobility. This requires citizens to be offered appropriate, affordable and reliable mobility choices. At the same time financial incentives should be put in place to encourage sustainable mobility, rather than penalties that punish mobility altogether.

We believe that citizens should benefit from a transport system designed and managed according to their needs, taking into account social, economic and environmental aspects in a balanced way. Mobility contributes to social integration by reducing the geographical handicap of peripheral countries and regions hence bringing EU citizens closer together. Whilst the most common transport modes include the car, motorcycle, public transport, walking and cycling, one cannot ignore that the passenger car has become the preferred choice for the vast majority of European citizens. It is unrivalled due to its ability to allow for independent mobility and convenience. Its importance to society will

a result ofofdealing concerns know-how their and expertise members. daily with isThis used theextensive to mobility tackle newand We mobility our member challenges clubs as they are involved a rise. in a wide educational product and development infrastructure range of technical programmes, testing, fiand eld research,centres. testing training laboratory the operation Thanks as towell ofthisawe as technical operate driver at the cutting solutions can beedge found where for theinnovative benefit of 8

This close contact with citizens as well as consumers.

9

local,oriented ensures userregional practical, solutions. andfi nancia national lly via authorities ble an d

Asso ci at ion Fr an çai se de sA uto mob lii ste

s

ARVI KO N

The FIA European member clubs boast a wealth of knowledge and experience in the area of mobility. As such, we offer consumeroriented political, technical and practical expertise to meet challenges in the field of transport.

Fédération Internationale de l ’Au tomobile European Bureau T +32 2 280 07 58

|F +32 2 280 07 44

|info@fiabrussels.com |www.fiabrussels.com

Member Clubs

september 2009

Werner Kraus Chairman of FIA Eurocouncil President of Austrian Automobile Club ÖAMTC

Fuel efficient cars participating in FIA’s Ecotour

ENVIRONMENT TO A CLEAN MOBILITY By making appropriate choices consumers contribute towards cleaner and more efficient mobility.

Clean and Energy EfÀcient Cars Currently new vehicle design, propulsion technologies and fuels are being developed. Nevertheless already available state of the art technologies, together with ecodriving, need to be further deployed. This must be the objective of future efforts to make mobility cleaner and more energy efficient. Financial incentives in the launch phase can boost innovation. A CO2 emissions model developed by ADAC shows the need for further CO2 reduction efforts through technological measures. It is based on extensive data research on existing European passenger car fleets. The model examines the effect of different factors such as the share of different fuel types, consumer demand patterns, and technological developments. It shows that, while the needed technologies are available, Europe would miss its 2012 average CO2 fleet emission target under a “business as usual” scenario.

Air Quality and Noise Progressive measures addressing vehicle and fuel technologies together with road infrastructure and driver behaviour need to be combined to achieve the most cost-beneficial energy effi ciency gains.

All modes of transport come together in cities

1

Fédération Europea n Burea Internatio unale de l’Automobile

The Voice of Mobile Consumers

Foreword

Member Clubs

3. Whilst maximising the societal benefi ts and affordability of mobility, the FIA aims to make it more sustainable, as well as more effi cient, safer, more reliable and comfortable. 4. Worldwide, the FIA contributes to the work of international organisations such as the World Health Organisation, International Transport Forum, World Tourism Organisation and the United Nation’s working parties on safer roads and global technical regulations.

MOBILITY KEY ENABLER OF WELFARE AND PROSPERITY Sustainable mobility is an important enabler of social and economic welfare. It sustains quality of life and is a factor of economic growth. This important basic right must be protected and further enhanced. The FIA European Bureau and its member clubs are committed to making Mobility for All a reality. We want to see a strategy developed for a European mobility that ensures a safe, sustainable and accessible transport system so as to meet the needs of people everywhere. Free movement of people is one of the defining features of the European Union. Access to mobility is essential for all citizens’ economic activities, social interactions and wellbeing.

2

Faced with a lack of attractive alternatives, Europeans choose to make the vast majority of their journeys by car. All policies affecting citizens’ mobility must then acknowledge the economic and social importance of the car. The mobile consumer must be at the centre of European policy making.

Contents

At a glance:

2

What we stand for, our vision Mobility Environment Consumer Protection Road Safety

Pollution from road transport has significantly decreased in recent years following improvements in vehicles and fuel technology. CO2 emissions have remained stable while traffic has steadily kept growing. However further breakthrough improvements are still necessary. Calls for measures are being made in many cities as poor air quality and noise remain a problem. Priority needs to be given to measures, that do not restrict mobility. However, if necessary restrictions should be tested for effectiveness, they should be as limited as possible and not be discriminatory to non-nationals.

Infrastructure and TrafÀ c Road infrastructure and traffic management measures represent an underexploited opportunity for energy efficiency gains. More investment in road infrastructure is needed to remove bottlenecks and missing links and reduce congestion. Telematic systems and integrated mobility planning will help to improve effi cient energy use.

3

Testing and Informing The FIA European Bureau and the member clubs inform consumers about available mobility choices and their consequent effect on the environment. EcoTest measures the emissions of new cars being sold in Europe and off ers consumers advice helping them choose environmentally friendly vehicles. Being independent from the propulsion technology and the source of the used energy, the test provides consumers user-friendly information through a star rating. By organising EcoTour rallies and field-testing some of the most fuel effi cient cars we demonstrated that, by applying a few eco-driving basic rules, fuel consumption could be reduced by a further 20 to 30%. The results of the EcoTour rallies confirm that necessary technologies to achieve the objective are within reach.

The cost of running and maintaining a car is a big part of the consumers’ budget

CONSUMERS PROTECTING THEIR INTERESTS AND RIGHTS The defence of mobile consumers’ interests must lie at the heart of today’s society. Policy-makers should ensure that consumers are fairly treated and that their rights and liberties are respected.

Our vision of Consumers’ Rights: •

4

Tourism & Passenger Rights

Choice - Free competition must ensure that consumers have suffi cient choice in the supply of goods and services

Tourism is a key generator of demand for mobility whether in terms of business or leisure. It deepens mutual understanding between nations. However society as a whole must develop a sustainable approach of tourism, so that European Regions can continue to benefit from the positive economic impact of tourism in the years to come.

Safety - All consumer goods and services linked to mobility should be inherently safe Value - Free choice of suppliers and competition among them must ensure that consumers receive value for money

The FIA European Bureau and the member clubs welcome the increasing attention given to the rights of mobile consumers as passengers of public transport systems, whether air, rail, bus or maritime. A set of widely understood and publicised rules regarding operators’ duty of care towards their passengers must be established. In our view, enforceable rights for passengers are essential for the future of co-modality.

Information - Consumers require detailed and reliable information as to the availability of goods and services, their safety, environmental performance and costs in order to make an informed choice.

Redress - When things go wrong, easily accessible redress and compensation processes must be available

Fair Contract Terms - Well defi ned standards for contractual relations are needed to ensure that the legal relationship between consumers and suppliers is well-balanced and fair

New Technologies & Data Protection We closely follow legislation around Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and digital rights. New technologies such as Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) can increase the efficiency of transport, reduce congestion and improve transport safety.

Given the increasing information gathered by these new technologies, we seek to ensure that use of personal data is restricted exclusively to clearly specified and legitimate purposes. We call for policy solutions that take users’ needs into account and effectively tackle privacy issues, for the consumers’ benefit.

Safe Systems

Safer Drivers

Road Safety is a responsibility of all stakeholders. An efficient policy must address users, vehicles and infrastructures within a safe systems approach.

The FIA European Bureau and the member clubs play a leading role in promoting awareness and responsibility among all road users through education, training and information. Campaigns are aimed at encouraging safe driving practices as well as life long learning. High risk groups and vulnerable road users are key targets of our road safety communication.

Safer Vehicles We promote vehicle designs that protect vulnerable road users, notably pedestrians and cyclists as well as safe and easy-to-use child restraints. New technologies including driver assistance and eCall need to be rapidly deployed to the benefi t of consumers. Information promoting their use has to be improved.

We recognise an enforcement policy proportional to offences as an instrument among the available range of tools available for modifying driver behaviour. Penalty policies should be transparent, applied fairly and be designed to effectively contribute to road safety.

Safer Roads Improvements in road infrastructure constitute a pillar of road safety which has the potential for major road safety gains. Analysis of national road casualty reduction strategies show that road infrastructure improvements deliver the greatest casualty reduction compared to improvements in vehicles and road-user behaviour. Roads must be self explanatory (reducing the likelihood of an accident) and forgiving (protecting when an accident occurs).

European Road Safety Charter The FIA European Bureau signed the Road Safety Charter for the first time in 2005. In 2009 the Bureau renewed its commitment to encourage all its member clubs to join this initiative. Numerous member clubs have answered the call and singned the Charter. By joining the Road Safety Charter the member clubs commit to undertake concrete actions and to further promote the need to reduce road casualties.

aff ordability and the necessary warranties when consumers buy a car. Standardised open access to all vehicle manufacturers’ technical repair and maintenance information by every after-market operator is vital to ensure access to affordable maintenance and repair services for consumers. Similarly, liberalisation of the market for car spare parts must urgently be addressed to preserve safety and affordable consumer choices.

5

Justice and Home Affairs The introduction of European enforcement and penal measures impacts on the mobility of ordinary motorists. We are committed to ensuring that the EU also provides sufficient procedural safeguards for citizens involved as suspects or defendants in cross border criminal proceedings. Equal treatment between nationals and EU citizens must become a reality in legal proceedings. Legislative measures should be introduced to overcome the language difficulties and the unfamiliarity of the national law by non-native defendants. These safeguards include - but are not limited to - the right to legal advice, free interpretation and translation, communication, special protection for vulnerable persons as well as a written communication of rights.

Projects and co-operations FIA and its member clubs yearly test and benchmark a number of mobility related products and services to the benefit of consumers. Through concrete projects and alliances we define and advocate for quality and safety standards we believe consumers deserve. By raising public awareness our varied initiatives support the rights of mobile consumers to be fairly treated and defend their interests.

www.eurotestmobility.com

www.eurotap.eu

www.r2rc.eu

www.erscharter.eu

Ultimately, these initiatives provide all transport users with concrete advice on their mobility. They further stimulate a healthy public debate about the best ways to tackle identified failings.

7 www.euroncap.com

www.makecarsgreen.org

www.eurorap.net Layout and maintenance of roads are essential to safety

www.esafetyaware.eu

www.fot-net.eu

www.icarsnetwork.eu

www.ecotest.eu

Projects

FIA clubs in Europe draw on a great depth of experience and knowledge gained as a result of dealing daily with the mobility concerns of their members. This extensive know-how and expertise is used to tackle new mobility challenges as they arise. We and our member clubs are involved in a wide range of technical and educational development programmes, product and infrastructure testing, field research, the operation of a technical testing laboratory as well as driver training centres. Thanks to this we operate at the cutting edge where innovative solutions can be found for the benefit of consumers. This close contact with citizens as well as local, regional and national authorities ensures practical, financially viable and user-oriented solutions.

8

9

ARVIKON Association Française des Automobiliste

We are committed to achieving sustainable mobility. We are actively involved in the development of policies aimed at improving mobility, consumer protection, vehicle and infrastructure safety and environmental protection.

TrafÀc We are active in ensuring that the right legal framework is established to improve road safety in Europe. We support greater harmonisation of highway codes and traffic signs. Road users should know their rights and duties. We call for measures to improve drivers’ education and the design of the right signalisation on European roads.

Taxation The tax burden put on mobile consumers is immense. Motorists contribute billions to national treasuries. However, little is reinvested in the improvement of Europe’s mobility infrastructure, safety or environment to the users’ benefit. Further increases of total revenues of taxes and charges are not justified. Whilst supportive to taxation models reflecting traffi c safety, energy consumption and environmental performance we believe that any changes within fiscal systems need to be fair to consumers and revenue neutral.

Competition Issues A car is a highly complex product that must be maintained and serviced according to stringent safety and environmental standards as well as insured against damage to third parties. As the leading consumer mobility organisation in Europe, we are committed to ensuring choice,

Consumers evaluating rental cars on off er

ROAD SAFETY - FIVE STAR CARS ON FIVE STAR ROADS WITH FIVE STAR DRIVERS Road safety must remain a top priority: 40,000 annual road deaths are unacceptable. Ambitious targets together with strong leadership and backed by benchmarking are prerequisites for improvement.

6

Member Clubs

3. Whilst maximising the societal benefits and affordability of mobility, the FIA aims to make it more sustainable, as well as more efficient, safer, more reliable and comfortable.

MOBILITY KEY ENABLER OF WELFARE AND PROSPERITY

2

Faced with a lack of attractive alternatives, Europeans choose to make the vast majority of their journeys by car. All policies affecting citizens’ mobility must then acknowledge the economic and social importance of the car. The mobile consumer must be at the centre of European policy making.

Contents

At a glance:

2

s

The FIA European member clubs boast a wealth of knowledge and experience in the area of mobility. As such, we offer consumeroriented political, technical and practical expertise to meet challenges in the field of transport.

Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile European Bureau Rue de la Science 41 | 1040 Brussels T +32 2 280 07 58 | F +32 2 280 07 44 | info@fiabrussels.com | www.fiabrussels.com

Member Clubs

september 2009

Werner Kraus Chairman of FIA Eurocouncil President of Austrian Automobile Club ÖAMTC

Fuel efficient cars participating in FIA’s Ecotour

ENVIRONMENT TO A CLEAN MOBILITY By making appropriate choices consumers contribute towards cleaner and more efficient mobility.

Clean and Energy EfÀcient Cars Currently new vehicle design, propulsion technologies and fuels are being developed. Nevertheless already available state of the art technologies, together with ecodriving, need to be further deployed. This must be the objective of future efforts to make mobility cleaner and more energy efficient. Financial incentives in the launch phase can boost innovation. A CO2 emissions model developed by ADAC shows the need for further CO2 reduction efforts through technological measures. It is based on extensive data research on existing European passenger car fleets. The model examines the effect of different factors such as the share of different fuel types, consumer demand patterns, and technological developments.

Infrastructure and TrafÀc

It shows that, while the needed technologies are available, Europe would miss its 2012 average CO2 fleet emission target under a “business as usual” scenario.

Road infrastructure and traffic management measures represent an underexploited opportunity for energy efficiency gains. More investment in road infrastructure is needed to remove bottlenecks and missing links and reduce congestion. Telematic systems and integrated mobility planning will help to improve efficient energy use.

Air Quality and Noise

Testing and Informing

Progressive measures addressing vehicle and fuel technologies together with road infrastructure and driver behaviour need to be combined to achieve the most cost-beneficial energy efficiency gains.

The FIA European Bureau and the member clubs inform consumers about available mobility choices and their consequent effect on the environment. EcoTest measures the emissions of new cars being sold in Europe and offers consumers advice helping them choose environmentally friendly vehicles. Being independent from the propulsion technology and the source of the used energy, the test provides consumers user-friendly information through a star rating.

Pollution from road transport has significantly decreased in recent years following improvements in vehicles and fuel technology. CO2 emissions have remained stable while traffic has steadily kept growing. However further breakthrough improvements are still necessary. Calls for measures are being made in many cities as poor air quality and noise remain a problem. Priority needs to be given to measures, that do not restrict mobility. However, if necessary restrictions should be tested for effectiveness, they should be as limited as possible and not be discriminatory to non-nationals.

3

By organising EcoTour rallies and field-testing some of the most fuel efficient cars we demonstrated that, by applying a few eco-driving basic rules, fuel consumption could be reduced by a further 20 to 30%. The results of the EcoTour rallies confirm that necessary technologies to achieve the objective are within reach.

The cost of running and maintai

CONSUMERS PROTECTING THEIR INTERESTS AND RIGHTS The defence of mobile consumers’ interests must lie at the heart of today’s society. Policy-makers should ensure that consumers are fairly treated and that their rights and liberties are respected.

Our vision of Consumers’ Rights:

Tourism & Passenger Rights

Tourism is a key generator of demand for mobility whether in terms of business or leisure. It deepens mutual understanding between nations. However society as a whole must develop a sustainable approach of tourism, so that European Regions can continue to benefit from the positive economic impact of tourism in the years to come.

4

Choice - Free competition must ensure that consumers have sufficient choice in the supply of goods and services Safety - All consumer goods and services linked to mobility should be inherently safe

Value - Free choice of suppliers and competition among them must ensure that consumers receive value for money

Information - Consumers require detailed and reliable information as to the availability of goods and services, their safety, environmental performance and costs in order to make an informed choice.

Redress - When things go wrong, easily accessible redress and compensation processes must be available

Fair Contract Terms - Well defined standards for contractual relations are needed to ensure that the legal relationship between consumers and suppliers is well-balanced and fair

The FIA European Bureau and the member clubs welcome the increasing attention given to the rights of mobile consumers as passengers of public transport systems, whether air, rail, bus or maritime. A set of widely understood and publicised rules regarding operators’ duty of care towards their passengers must be established. In our view, enforceable rights for passengers are essential for the future of co-modality.

New Technologies & Data Protection We closely follow legislation around Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and digital rights. New technologies such as Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) can increase the efficiency of transport, reduce congestion and improve transport safety.

Given the increasing information gathered by these new technologies, we seek to ensure that use of personal data is restricted exclusively to clearly specified and legitimate purposes. We call for policy solutions that take users’ needs into account and effectively tackle privacy issues, for the consumers’ benefit.

cost We pr omote believe s andd according be t ha netfitalls becomes mo t ode t heir s ofintrinsic incre tr anspo asingl strengt rt sho y pould hs siti. be ve.

A ke y challe nge for societ y in the 21

We are committed to achieving sustainable mobility. We are actively involved in the development of policies aimed at improving mobility, consumer protection, vehicle and infrastructure safety and environmental protection.

TrafÀc We are active in ensuring that the right legal framework is established to improve road safety in Europe. We support greater harmonisation of highway codes and traffic signs. Road users should know their rights and duties. We call for measures to improve drivers’ education and the design of the right signalisation on European roads.

Taxation The tax burden put on mobile consumers is immense. Motorists contribute billions to national treasuries. However, little is reinvested in the improvement of Europe’s mobility infrastructure, safety or environment to the users’ benefit. Further increases of total revenues of taxes and charges are not justified. Whilst supportive to taxation models reflecting traffic safety, energy consumption and environmental performance we believe that any changes within fiscal systems need to be fair to consumers and revenue neutral.

Competition Issues A car is a highly complex product that must be maintained and serviced according to stringent safety and environmental standards as well as insured against damage to third parties. As the leading consumer mobility organisation in Europe, we are committed to ensuring choice,

Consumers evaluating rental cars on offer

con tin ue t o g row a s t he balan ce be tw ee n so cial

committed want mobility to see t hat toa making strategy ensuresMobility developed a safe,forsustai All for aanable realit European y. and We

accessible of is one people of transport everywhere. the defin system ing Free features somovement as to of meet the of European thepeople needs

Union. Access economic being. activities, to mobility socialis essent interacial tions for all and citizens’ well-

We believe transp ort system t hat designed citi zens and should manag benefit ed according from a

to t heir and Mobilit environmental yneeds, c ontributes takingaspects into t o account social in a social, integ balanced ration economic way. by

reducing countries closer together. tand he geographical regions hence handicap b ringingof EU peripheral citizens

Whilst the car,thmo e most torcycle, common p ublic tr ansport, tr ansport walking modes andinclude

cycling, car maj orit has ybecome one of European cannot the preferred cignor itizene s.that Itchoice is tunr hefor ivalled passenger the due vast

to itsconvenienc and ability toe.allow It s importance for independ toent societ mobilit y willy

affordability and the necessary warranties when consumers buy a car. Standardised open access to all vehicle manufacturers’ technical repair and maintenance information by every after-market operator is vital to ensure access to affordable maintenance and repair services for consumers. Similarly, liberalisation of the market for car spare parts must urgently be addressed to preserve safety and affordable consumer choices.

5

Justice and Home Affairs The introduction of European enforcement and penal measures impacts on the mobility of ordinary motorists. We are committed to ensuring that the EU also provides sufficient procedural safeguards for citizens involved as suspects or defendants in cross border criminal proceedings. Equal treatment between nationals and EU citizens must become a reality in legal proceedings. Legislative measures should be introduced to overcome the language difficulties and the unfamiliarity of the national law by non-native defendants. These safeguards include - but are not limited to - the right to legal advice, free interpretation and translation, communication, special protection for vulnerable persons as well as a written communication of rights.

The FIA European member clubs boast a wealth of knowledge and experience in the area of mobility. As such, we offer consumeroriented political, technical and practical expertise to meet challenges in the field of transport.

Member Clubs

september 2009

Werner Kraus Chairman of FIA Eurocouncil President of Austrian Automobile Club ÖAMTC

1


MOBILITY KEY ENABLER OF WELFARE AND PROSPERITY Sustainable mobility is an important enabler of social and economic welfare. It sustains quality of life and is a factor of economic growth. This important basic right must be protected and further enhanced. The FIA European Bureau and its member clubs are committed to making Mobility for All a reality. We want to see a strategy developed for a European mobility that ensures a safe, sustainable and accessible transport system so as to meet the needs of people everywhere. Free movement of people is one of the defining features of the European Union. Access to mobility is essential for all citizens’ economic activities, social interactions and wellbeing. We believe that citizens should benefit from a transport system designed and managed according to their needs, taking into account social, economic and environmental aspects in a balanced way. Mobility contributes to social integration by reducing the geographical handicap of peripheral countries and regions hence bringing EU citizens closer together.

2

Whilst the most common transport modes include the car, motorcycle, public transport, walking and cycling, one cannot ignore that the passenger car has become the preferred choice for the vast majority of European citizens. It is unrivalled due to its ability to allow for independent mobility and convenience. Its importance to society will

All modes of transport come together in cities

continue to grow as the balance between social costs and benefits becomes increasingly positive. We believe that all modes of transport should be promoted according to their intrinsic strengths. A key challenge for society in the 21st century is clearly to accommodate the desire for individual transport while reducing, and even eliminating, the negative impacts of car-based mobility. This requires citizens to be offered appropriate, affordable and reliable mobility choices. At the same time financial incentives should be put in place to encourage sustainable mobility, rather than penalties that punish mobility altogether. To sustain this objective the FIA European Bureau coordinates consumer protection activities among the clubs that carry out tests in the whole field of mobility. We examine key criteria such as usability, safety, environmental sustainability and costs. With results published in club magazines throughout Europe, some 35 million motorists receive neutral and objective information when making their mobility choices. Publication of test results also introduces a spirit of healthy competition in both industry and public authorities, helping at the same time to initiate continuous improvement.


Fuel efficient cars participating in FIA’s Ecotour

ENVIRONMENT TO A CLEAN MOBILITY By making appropriate choices consumers contribute towards cleaner and more efficient mobility.

Clean and Energy Efficient Cars Currently new vehicle design, propulsion technologies and fuels are being developed. Nevertheless already available state of the art technologies, together with ecodriving, need to be further deployed. This must be the objective of future efforts to make mobility cleaner and more energy efficient. Financial incentives in the launch phase can boost innovation. A CO2 emissions model developed by ADAC shows the need for further CO2 reduction efforts through technological measures. It is based on extensive data research on existing European passenger car fleets. The model examines the effect of different factors such as the share of different fuel types, consumer demand patterns, and technological developments.

Infrastructure and Traffic

It shows that, while the needed technologies are available, Europe would miss its 2012 average CO2 fleet emission target under a “business as usual� scenario.

Road infrastructure and traffic management measures represent an underexploited opportunity for energy efficiency gains. More investment in road infrastructure is needed to remove bottlenecks and missing links and reduce congestion. Telematic systems and integrated mobility planning will help to improve efficient energy use.

Air Quality and Noise

Testing and Informing

Progressive measures addressing vehicle and fuel technologies together with road infrastructure and driver behaviour need to be combined to achieve the most cost-beneficial energy efficiency gains.

The FIA European Bureau and the member clubs inform consumers about available mobility choices and their consequent effect on the environment. EcoTest measures the emissions of new cars being sold in Europe and offers consumers advice helping them choose environmentally friendly vehicles. Being independent from the propulsion technology and the source of the used energy, the test provides consumers user-friendly information through a star rating.

Pollution from road transport has significantly decreased in recent years following improvements in vehicles and fuel technology. CO2 emissions have remained stable while traffic has steadily kept growing. However further breakthrough improvements are still necessary. Calls for measures are being made in many cities as poor air quality and noise remain a problem. Priority needs to be given to measures, that do not restrict mobility. However, if necessary restrictions should be tested for effectiveness, they should be as limited as possible and not be discriminatory to non-nationals.

By organising EcoTour rallies and field-testing some of the most fuel efficient cars we demonstrated that, by applying a few eco-driving basic rules, fuel consumption could be reduced by a further 20 to 30%. The results of the EcoTour rallies confirm that necessary technologies to achieve the objective are within reach.

3


CONSUMERS PROTECTING THEIR INTERESTS AND RIGHTS The defence of mobile consumers’ interests must lie at the heart of today’s society. Policy-makers should ensure that consumers are fairly treated and that their rights and liberties are respected.

4

Our vision of Consumers’ Rights:

Tourism & Passenger Rights

Choice - Free competition must ensure that consumers have sufficient choice in the supply of goods and services

Safety - All consumer goods and services linked to mobility should be inherently safe

Tourism is a key generator of demand for mobility whether in terms of business or leisure. It deepens mutual understanding between nations. However society as a whole must develop a sustainable approach of tourism, so that European Regions can continue to benefit from the positive economic impact of tourism in the years to come.

Value - Free choice of suppliers and competition among them must ensure that consumers receive value for money

Information - Consumers require detailed and reliable information as to the availability of goods and services, their safety, environmental performance and costs in order to make an informed choice.

Redress - When things go wrong, easily accessible redress and compensation processes must be available

Fair Contract Terms - Well defined standards for contractual relations are needed to ensure that the legal relationship between consumers and suppliers is well-balanced and fair

The FIA European Bureau and the member clubs welcome the increasing attention given to the rights of mobile consumers as passengers of public transport systems, whether air, rail, bus or maritime. A set of widely understood and publicised rules regarding operators’ duty of care towards their passengers must be established. In our view, enforceable rights for passengers are essential for the future of co-modality.

New Technologies & Data Protection We closely follow legislation around Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and digital rights. New technologies such as Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) can increase the efficiency of transport, reduce congestion and improve transport safety.

Consumers evaluating rental cars on offer


The cost of running and maintaining a car is a big part of the consumers’ budget

Given the increasing information gathered by these new technologies, we seek to ensure that use of personal data is restricted exclusively to clearly specified and legitimate purposes. We call for policy solutions that take users’ needs into account and effectively tackle privacy issues, for the consumers’ benefit.

Traffic We are active in ensuring that the right legal framework is established to improve road safety in Europe. We support greater harmonisation of highway codes and traffic signs. Road users should know their rights and duties. We call for measures to improve drivers’ education and the design of the right signalisation on European roads.

Taxation

affordability and the necessary warranties when consumers buy a car. Standardised open access to all vehicle manufacturers’ technical repair and maintenance information by every after-market operator is vital to ensure access to affordable maintenance and repair services for consumers. Similarly, liberalisation of the market for car spare parts must urgently be addressed to preserve safety and affordable consumer choices.

The tax burden put on mobile consumers is immense. Motorists contribute billions to national treasuries. However, little is reinvested in the improvement of Europe’s mobility infrastructure, safety or environment to the users’ benefit.

Justice and Home Affairs

Further increases of total revenues of taxes and charges are not justified. Whilst supportive to taxation models reflecting traffic safety, energy consumption and environmental performance we believe that any changes within fiscal systems need to be fair to consumers and revenue neutral.

The introduction of European enforcement and penal measures impacts on the mobility of ordinary motorists. We are committed to ensuring that the EU also provides sufficient procedural safeguards for citizens involved as suspects or defendants in cross border criminal proceedings.

Competition Issues A car is a highly complex product that must be maintained and serviced according to stringent safety and environmental standards as well as insured against damage to third parties. As the leading consumer mobility organisation in Europe, we are committed to ensuring choice,

Equal treatment between nationals and EU citizens must become a reality in legal proceedings. Legislative measures should be introduced to overcome the language difficulties and the unfamiliarity of the national law by non-native defendants. These safeguards include - but are not limited to - the right to legal advice, free interpretation and translation, communication, special protection for vulnerable persons as well as a written communication of rights.

5


ROAD SAFETY - FIVE STAR CARS ON FIVE STAR ROADS WITH FIVE STAR DRIVERS Road safety must remain a top priority: 40,000 annual road deaths are unacceptable. Ambitious targets together with strong leadership and backed by benchmarking are prerequisites for improvement.

Safe Systems

Safer Drivers

Road Safety is a responsibility of all stakeholders. An efficient policy must address users, vehicles and infrastructures within a safe systems approach.

The FIA European Bureau and the member clubs play a leading role in promoting awareness and responsibility among all road users through education, training and information. Campaigns are aimed at encouraging safe driving practices as well as life long learning. High risk groups and vulnerable road users are key targets of our road safety communication.

Safer Vehicles We promote vehicle designs that protect vulnerable road users, notably pedestrians and cyclists as well as safe and easy-to-use child restraints. New technologies including driver assistance and eCall need to be rapidly deployed to the benefit of consumers. Information promoting their use has to be improved.

Safer Roads 6

Improvements in road infrastructure constitute a pillar of road safety which has the potential for major road safety gains. Analysis of national road casualty reduction strategies show that road infrastructure improvements deliver the greatest casualty reduction compared to improvements in vehicles and road-user behaviour. Roads must be self explanatory (reducing the likelihood of an accident) and forgiving (protecting when an accident occurs).

Layout and maintenance of roads are essential to safety

We recognise an enforcement policy proportional to offences as an instrument among the available range of tools available for modifying driver behaviour. Penalty policies should be transparent, applied fairly and be designed to effectively contribute to road safety.

European Road Safety Charter The FIA European Bureau signed the Road Safety Charter for the first time in 2005. In 2009 the Bureau renewed its commitment to encourage all its member clubs to join this initiative. Numerous member clubs have answered the call and singned the Charter. By joining the Road Safety Charter the member clubs commit to undertake concrete actions and to further promote the need to reduce road casualties.


Projects and co-operations FIA and its member clubs yearly test and benchmark a number of mobility related products and services to the benefit of consumers. Through concrete projects and alliances we define and advocate for quality and safety standards we believe consumers deserve. By raising public awareness our varied initiatives support the rights of mobile consumers to be fairly treated and defend their interests.

www.eurotestmobility.com

www.eurotap.eu

www.r2rc.eu

www.erscharter.eu

Ultimately, these initiatives provide all transport users with concrete advice on their mobility. They further stimulate a healthy public debate about the best ways to tackle identified failings.

7 www.euroncap.com

www.makecarsgreen.org

www.eurorap.net

www.esafetyaware.eu

www.fot-net.eu

www.icarsnetwork.eu

www.ecotest.eu


8

Association Franรงaise des Automobiliste

s


Member Clubs FIA clubs in Europe draw on a great depth of experience and knowledge gained as a result of dealing daily with the mobility concerns of their members. This extensive know-how and expertise is used to tackle new mobility challenges as they arise. We and our member clubs are involved in a wide range of technical and educational development programmes, product and infrastructure testing, field research, the operation of a technical testing laboratory as well as driver training centres. Thanks to this we operate at the cutting edge where innovative solutions can be found for the benefit of consumers. This close contact with citizens as well as local, regional and national authorities ensures practical, financially viable and user-oriented solutions.

9

ARVIKON


Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile European Bureau Rue de la Science 41 | 1040 Brussels T +32 2 280 07 58 | F +32 2 280 07 44 | info@fiabrussels.com | www.fiabrussels.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.