EU transport ministers on 9-10 December 2004 agreed to an ambitious road safety strategy aimed at halving the number of road casualties by 2010.
The strategy places particular emphasis on rules enforcement and on sharing best practices at EU, national and local levels. Cross-border enforcement initiatives received particularly strong support from countries like France, whose roads are intensively travelled by European tourists.
Technological advances will in the future be called to "play an increasing role in support of enforcement", the Council conclusions read. These include potentially far-reaching initiatives for car producers such as fitting vehicles with "automatic speed control systems, speed warning or speed limiting devices, alcohol locks and seat belt reminders" whose introduction should be "promoted".
"Intelligent" vehicle safety features integrating both passive and active elements are also to be encouraged to limit road accidents. Possible future funding for road safety is even envisaged where both public and private sector would be involved. Insurance companies would, for example, be encouraged to "find ways to reward safe driving and stimulate the use of safe vehicles".
It is, however, still unclear how far the details of the conclusions can secure full political backing from the member states, who retain the upper hand over the Commission when it comes to road safety initiatives. Indeed, no schedule or precise programme has been agreed as to possible enforcement measures at EU level.
The Commission even distanced itself from the ministers' conclusions, saying in a declaration attached to the conclusions that it would act only in accordance with the right of initiative given to it by the treaties, namely subsidiarity.
"I cannot rule out the Commission taking initiatives on enforcement," a spokesperson for Transport Commissioner Barrot nevertheless told EurActiv. "Several ministers are very mobilised" and Mr Barrot wants to "strengthen controls", he said. Barrot is expected to produce an assessment by mid-2005.
The ministers' conclusions are largely taken from an informal meeting of transport ministers held last October in Verona, Italy.
"This is not the reflection of a precise political will," a diplomatic source told EurActiv. The Italians probably "pushed it a little bit too far" when writing the conclusions, the source said.
