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Brussels, |
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Road Safety Policy
MOBILITY & TRANSPORT
EU Strategy
The EU Road Safety Policy is a comprehensive framework aimed at significantly enhancing road safety across the European Union.
Despite having the safest roads in the world, the EU acknowledges that the number of road accidents and fatalities is still distressingly high, and efforts to reduce these numbers have seen diminishing returns in recent years. In response, the EU has adopted the Vision Zero and Safe System approach, setting ambitious goals to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on European roads. This approach reframes road safety policy by focusing on preventing deaths and serious injuries rather than merely responding to them.
The EU collaborates closely with member countries' authorities on road safety, building on national initiatives, setting targets, and addressing all factors that contribute to crashes. This collaboration involves adopting laws, supporting public education campaigns, facilitating the sharing of relevant experiences among member countries, and providing funding. Key areas of focus include infrastructure, safe road use, vehicle safety, and post-impact care. Additionally, the EU engages in cooperation and knowledge sharing, exemplified by initiatives like the High-Level Group on Road Safety, the European Road Safety Charter, and the EU Road Safety Exchange.
Funding plays a crucial role in supporting these initiatives, with resources such as the European structural and investment funds, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), and the Safer Transport Platform being pivotal. These funds are used to upgrade regional and urban road infrastructure and invest in road safety and digitalization. Furthermore, road safety projects receive substantial support from and Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation programs.
Despite having the safest roads in the world, the EU acknowledges that the number of road accidents and fatalities is still distressingly high, and efforts to reduce these numbers have seen diminishing returns in recent years. In response, the EU has adopted the Vision Zero and Safe System approach, setting ambitious goals to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on European roads. This approach reframes road safety policy by focusing on preventing deaths and serious injuries rather than merely responding to them.
The EU collaborates closely with member countries' authorities on road safety, building on national initiatives, setting targets, and addressing all factors that contribute to crashes. This collaboration involves adopting laws, supporting public education campaigns, facilitating the sharing of relevant experiences among member countries, and providing funding. Key areas of focus include infrastructure, safe road use, vehicle safety, and post-impact care. Additionally, the EU engages in cooperation and knowledge sharing, exemplified by initiatives like the High-Level Group on Road Safety, the European Road Safety Charter, and the EU Road Safety Exchange.
Funding plays a crucial role in supporting these initiatives, with resources such as the European structural and investment funds, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), and the Safer Transport Platform being pivotal. These funds are used to upgrade regional and urban road infrastructure and invest in road safety and digitalization. Furthermore, road safety projects receive substantial support from and Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation programs.
