71 people are killed every day on our roads – Clune

Jun 18, 2015 | People

71 people are killed every day on our roads – Clune

Jun 18, 2015 | People

71 people are killed every day on our roads – Clune

Jun 18, 2015 | People

71 Europeans are killed every day on our roads – Clune

 

We are losing the battle against road deaths in Europe!

France, Ireland, Germany and the UK were among the 12 EU member states that saw an increase in the number of road deaths last year

 

Ireland South MEP and member of the European Transport Committee Deirdre Clune has called for radical action on road deaths in Europe following disappointing road death figures released today by the European Transport Safety Council.

“Today’s figures are a wakeup call. They are the worse annual reduction in road deaths in Europe since 2001 and are an indication that we have taken our eye off the ball in both Ireland and the wider EU when it comes to road safety. Over 25,000 people died last year on our watch and we need to do everything we can to ensure that we stop this carnage!

“France, Ireland, Germany and the UK were among the 12 EU member states that saw an increase in the number of road deaths last year compared to 2013. On a positive note Croatia, Slovenia, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg and Malta all recorded reductions of around 10% or more. Slovenia has reduced annual road deaths by 61% since 2001.

“In Ireland alone, a total of 196 people have lost their lives in 2014, compared to 190 in 2013, a 3% rise. However, it represents a 21% increase when compared to the 162 road deaths that occurred in 2012, the safest year on Irish roads. That trend is replicated in many countries across Europe who had, up until now, been making progress on cutting road deaths.

“Today’s figures show that 25,845 people were killed on EU roads in 2014 as a consequence of road collisions (decrease of just 0.6% compared to 2013). Given these figures, we now need an 8% annual reduction in road deaths between 2015 and 2020 in order to reach our EU target to halve the number of road deaths by 2020.

“We also need to make serious progress on road injuries. 203,500 people were recorded as seriously injured in EU road accidents in the 23 EU countries that distinguish between serious and slightly injured in their data (increase of 3% compared to 2013)
“The EU institutions must now commit to making key safety technologies such as Automated Emergency Braking (AEB), overridable Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), intelligent seat belt reminders for passenger seats and alcohol interlock devices to be made standard on all new vehicles. A proposal for revised vehicle safety standards is expected later this year and I would call on the Commissioner to bring forward those proposals so that we can prevent any further unnecessary loss of life!