A successful scheme which was launched in France to encourage road safety should be considered in Ireland. In France the “Ville Prudente” (Safer Towns) label is given to cities and towns. regardless of their size, that develop an active road safety policy “in order to improve the safety and quality of life of their inhabitants”.

MEPs at the European Parliament’s Transport Committee have backed new EU rules covering road infrastructure safety and minimum vehicle safety standards. As the only Irish MEP on the Transport Committee welcomes this vote.

MEP Clune said: “There are 500 deaths on European roads each week. It is so important that we keep doing all we can to make the roads safer for those who use them. It is vital too that we work to ensure vehicles on the road are safe. An initiative such as the successful one in France which rewards cities and towns who are working hard on making sure their roads are safer should be considered in Ireland.”

At the European Parliament MEPs agreed that performance standards for road signs and road markings across Europe should be developed. They want to see minimum road safety requirements for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. The Transport Committee also voted in support of a wide-ranging package of new vehicle safety measures such as a number of new mandatory technologies such as Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) and a form of Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), to help drivers keep within the speed limit.

It is important that higher standards for road signs and road markings are developed as often they can take away control from the driver. I am glad that MEPs voted to fast track these rules, with implementation to start two years after adoption of the rules.

In addition MEPs requested that eCall, an automated emergency calling system fitted to all new cars and vans in the EU, should also be fitted to lorries and buses in the future.