Police forces launch pan-European road safety campaign

Inaugural 'European Day Without a Road Death' sees road users asked to take a safety pledge

Police forces from across Europe working together to reduce road fatalities have launched the first ‘European Day Without a Road Death’, otherwise known as Project EDWARD.

The project is supported by the 30 members of TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network, and will highlight all the work being done by organisations to try and halve the number of road deaths in the European Union by 2020. It is hoped that Project EDWARD will encourage all road users to reflect on their behaviour and attitude, as this remains one of the most important barriers to lowering road deaths.

TIPSOL held a conference in Brussels today to mark the launch of Project EDWARD, and throughout Europe police forces have been encouraging road users to sign the TISPOL pledge.

TISPOL is concerned that countries that have successfully pursued the EU target of a 50% reduction in road deaths since the start of the decade have seen this trend stagnate over the past two years. TISPOL said: “Driver behaviour remains the most important barrier to progress as we approach 2020 and its reduction targets.”

TISPOL added that “speeding, drink-driving, not wearing a seat belt, using the phone while driving, using vehicles they have not kept roadworthy, parking their cars on bicycle lanes, blocking pedestrian crossings, not turning on their lights or engaging in risky manoeuvres” are just some of the ways drivers are putting other road users at risk.

The Project EDWARD road safety pledge

• I promise that I will:
• Remind my family, friends and colleagues to take extra care on the roads.
• Put my lights on for safety.
• Drive as safely as I can and follow the rules when behind the wheel or riding a motorbike or bicycle.
• Be extra vigilant and attentive to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, children, older people and horse riders.
• Drive at speeds that are both legal and safe.
• Carry out proper safety checks on my tyres.
• Pay particular attention when driving near schools, and where there are lots of children.
• Never drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs/medicines that could impair safety.
• Look as far ahead as possible and not tailgate other drivers
• Always wear my seat belt and ensure that everyone with me wears theirs.
• Not use my mobile phone while driving.
• Ensuring I am not distracted by anything inside or outside the car, or inside my head.
• Set a good example to my passengers by driving calmly and safely.

UK road safety charity IAM RoadSmart supports Project EDWARD. Sarah Sillars, its chief executive officer, said: “Reducing road deaths to zero, if just for one day, would be a powerful shake up to a slowdown in the decrease in the number of road deaths. European Day Without a Road Death is a brilliant initiative and we are keen to support it through offering practical support and advice to drivers and riders.”

Roadsmart IAM highlighted the dangers of distraction factors to drivers in its report The Battle for Attention earlier this year. The report investigated Department or Transport figures which showed that in 2013 there were 2,995 cases where distraction in the vehicle was listed as a contributory factor, making up 3% of all accidents, and 1,627 where distraction outside the vehicle was a contributory factor, making up 1% of all accidents.

Another UK road safety charity, Brake, believed more can be done than just focusing on driver behaviour. It believes that strong legislation and leadership from authorities and governments can play a much more vital part. It wants the UK government to bring back casualty reduction targets, ban all mobile phone use in cars and introducing a zero tolerance drink-drive limit.  

In 2015 1,732 people died on the roads in Great Britain and 22,137 more were seriously injured. Brake argued that a reintroduction of ambitious casualty reduction targets, axed in 2010, would be a key first step in an urgently needed fightback against road crashes, alongside a ‘Vision Zero’ approach that acknowledges that any road death is unacceptable.

The charity also said there needs to be more investment in safer systems to ensure that human error doesn’t cost lives, and that those who might wilfully endanger others through such acts as speeding and drink-driving are deterred by effective enforcement campaigns.

Alice Bailey, campaigns advisor for Brake, said: “Striving for zero road deaths is an ambitious but necessary long-term target. Preventable crashes tear apart families and communities and we should not accept any number. We must also acknowledge that the traffic causing these tragedies is a major contributor to carbon emissions, affecting the well-being and health of individuals and the planet. We should aspire to a world where governments, communities and companies work together to achieve zero road deaths and serious injuries, and streets that can be used without fear.”