Speaking at a Forum for the Automobile & Society reception on September 29th FIA Foundation trustee (and FIA President) Max Mosley called on European policy-makers to give greater priority to road safety.
Mr Mosley pointed out that it is only by engaging at the highest political level can Europe could hope to reduce road deaths from the current level of 50,000 a year. He cited the example of France where political leadership from President Chirac has led to a 20% reduction in road deaths over the last year. Criticising the wholly inadequate provisions for road safety at the European level, Mr Mosley noted that the European Commission splits responsibility for road safety over a number of departments and the only unit dedicated to road safety is small and under resourced.
Mr Mosley also criticised the European Parliament, noting there was a lack of interest amongst members of the European Parliament (MEP) in what is seen as an ‘unsexy’ subject. Mr Mosley issued a challenge, asking ‘If a terrorist organisation announced that it was going to kill 50,000 of our fellow citizens next year; to eliminate by violence 137 people every day, what would the European Council decide to do? Would they add the subject as a minor part of a Commissioner’s portfolio, and authorise the establishment of a modest unit within a DG and ask it to report back in 2010?’
Mr Mosley was speaking at an event to mark the relaunch of the Forum for the Automobile and Society. The Forum, for which the FIA Foundation provides funding and secretariat support, is Brussels’ leading and most influential discussion arena for issues relating to the automobile and its role in society. The Forum brings together MEPs, EC officials, the car industry, motoring organisations, and environmental NGOs to discuss issues of relevance to all stakeholders. In the past the Forum has examined issues including road safety, clean vehicles, road pricing, and the sustainability of motoring.
The event in the European Parliament was also used to launch a report from the Forum which identifies the issues and challenges over the next five years. The report looks at four issues: Safety, the Environment, Mobility, and Competitiveness. The FIA Foundation and its staff were heavily involved in the development of the report, and the work on safety was led by FIA Foundation Director General, David Ward. The safety component of the report identifies a need for greater consideration to be given to the ‘systems’ approach to road safety and notes the role that education can play in reducing death on Europe’s roads. In addition, the report calls on Europe to take the lead in combating the global road safety crisis.
For more information on the Forum for the Automobile and Society and to download its report visit, www.autoandsociety.com