FIA Foundation trustee Ari Vatanen, the former world rally champion turned MEP, has received the backing of the European Parliament for his ambitious report on halving road fatalities by 2010. Should the recommendations contained in the report become reality, then it could save nearly 25,000 lives a year.
The European Parliament adopted the report on 29 September following a powerful speech by Mr Vatanen, in which he recalled his childhood experience of being in the car when his own father was killed: "I remember him leaning against the steering wheel...anxiety in my chest. I am sure this experience has left me with a bigger internal handicap than I dare to admit."
The Vatanen Report advocates three approaches to improving road safety; better drivers, better roads and better cars. "If everyone wore a seatbelt, complied with the speed limit and did not drive under the influence of alcohol, fatalities would be cut by 60%," Mr Vatanen said. The report also calls for more resources to be devoted to improving the design, construction and operation of the road network. This could mean greater simplification and standardisation of road signs across Europe to increase familiarity and safety. In a EuroTest 2005 survey, carried out by European FIA automobile clubs, 91% of motorists said they would favour this move. The report advocates increasing the use of technology such as stability controls, seat belt reminders and speed limiters to improve safety.
Mr Vatanen asked his Parliamentary colleagues "why do we do so little" when confronted with the horror of road crashes? He suggested that the daily occurrence of road trffic crashes minimized their collective impact: "it's just one family crying here, another crying there."
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