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Resolution 2129 (2016)
Road safety in Europe as a public health priority
1. Europe has seen significant progress
in the last few decades as regards improved road safety, and some European
countries have the lowest accident rates in the world. The Parliamentary
Assembly nevertheless draws attention to the severe public health
impact of road accidents, resulting in high numbers of people dying or
having to live with disabilities. The situation could worsen in
the coming years.
2. The Assembly recalls the principles laid down in the Global status report on road safety 2015 of
the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Global
Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, which provide
the framework for policy action. The Assembly also recalls the recently
adopted Sustainable Development Goals on the halving of the number
of global deaths and injuries from road crashes by 2020, and on
the provision of access to safe, affordable and sustainable transport
systems for all.
3. The Assembly urges member States to develop effective long-term
policies for road safety and to better co-ordinate their practices,
taking into account the variety of legislation and policies across
Europe.
4. More specifically, the Assembly recommends that member States
step up co-ordination and action in order to:
4.1. implement legislative and policy measures at international,
national and local level, including the implementation of good practices
(for example, “zero-death” policies and action plans for road safety) and
securing commitment from major decision makers to ensure effective
enforcement;
4.2. make a comprehensive assessment of the current road safety
situation in their countries, to allow decision makers to take efficient
measures and to set targets for road safety to be achieved by 2020;
4.3. designate lead agencies to put in place comprehensive
road safety data-collection programmes to support the implementation
of national road safety strategies, plans and targets, and to monitor
their implementation, supporting pilot projects and the application
of ISO 39001 standards in road safety management systems;
4.4. encourage the creation of multi-sector partnerships, including
governments and their agencies, private sector companies, industry,
academia and non-profit organisations, to make technical and scientific
knowledge and information available rapidly to all stakeholders,
including through open data-sharing systems;
4.5. provide adequate financing for programmes promoting road
safety and invest a mandatory percentage of 10% of road infrastructure
expenditure on safety;
4.6. address the key behavioural risk factors, which are essential
elements of any action plan to increase the safety of roads, in
particular through awareness-raising campaigns for drivers, cyclists
and pedestrians, and include road safety education in school curricula
from an early age;
4.7. devise and implement legislation and policy measures on
issues such as the influence of alcohol, drugs, diseases and the
use of medicines on driver performance, including periodic driving
tests and medical checks to enable the evaluation of the continuing
capacity to drive, with co-ordination between health-care departments
and transport authorities;
4.8. introduce urban planning designed to protect vulnerable
road users, notably pedestrians and cyclists, as well as promote
public transport, walking and cycling;
4.9. make compulsory the use of helmets for motorcyclists and
of seat belts and child restraints in cars, put in place other safety
measures (such as special pavements and speed bumps), forbid the
use of mobile phones while driving, enforce credible speed limits
adapted to the environment and driving conditions (for example,
a maximum speed of 50 km/h in urban areas, with lower limits in
residential areas and in the vicinity of schools and sports facilities),
give priority to pedestrians and promote the use of active and passive
safety equipment and technological improvements on all roads and
in all vehicles;
4.10. further develop first aid and rescue systems on the roads,
emergency transportation, quality post-crash care for victims of
road traffic accidents, treatment in hospitals and rehabilitation;
4.11. put into place and promote adequate training for new drivers.