50 years of ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport): transport policies for Greater EuropeRecommendation 1597 (2003)

Doc. 10007

1 December 2003

50 years of ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport): transport policies for Greater Europe
Recommendation 1597 (2003)

Reply from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 861^st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (19 November 2003)

1. The Committee of Ministers has examined Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1597 (2003) on Fifty years of the ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport): transport policies for greater Europe and has brought it to the attention on member States. At the same time it has communicated it for information to the Pompidou Group, to the Committee on the Rehabilitation and Integration of People with Disabilities (Partial Agreement) (CD-P-RR), to the Committee of Senior Officials of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) and to the Committee for the Council of Europe Activities in the Field of Biological and Landscape Diversity (CO-DBP).

2. In light of the Assembly’s recommendation “that the Committee of Ministers consider organising a joint ECMT/Council of Europe conference on road safety involving other relevant international bodies and non-governmental organisations”, the Committee of Senior Officials of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) will examine, in February 2004, the possibility of organising a conference with the ECMT on road safety and spatial planning. The Committee of Ministers also draws the Assembly’s attention to two major seminars, organised by the Pompidou Group, in April 1999 and June 2003 on road traffic and the use of drugs and other psychoactive substances¹. It is likely that the issue will remain on the agenda of the Pompidou Group over the coming years and if a conference were to be organised with the ECMT, the Pompidou Group would be willing to contribute its expertise.

3. The Committee on the rehabilitation and integration of people with disabilities has formulated an opinion on the Assembly’s recommendation, which may be consulted in the appendix to this reply.

Appendix

Opinion of the Committee on the Rehabilitation and Integration of People with disabilities (CD-P-RR)

on Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1597 (2003) “Fifty years of the ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport): transport policies for greater Europe"

1. Recommendation 1597 (2003) "Fifty years of the ECMT (European Conference of Ministers of Transport): transport policies for greater Europe" was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 1 April 2003. The Ministers' Deputies examined it at their 837th meeting (16 April 2003) and decided to give the Committee on the Rehabilitation and Integration of People with Disabilities (Partial Agreement) (CD-P-RR) provisional terms of reference to transmit any comments on the recommendation to the Committee of Ministers by 31 July 2003 (Decision No. CM/Del/Dec(2003)837/3.1).

2. In paragraph 1 the Parliamentary Assembly refers to its Resolution 1321 (2003), which states that over 90,000 people are killed and over 2 million injured each year in road accidents in ECMT member states.

3. In paragraph 2 the Assembly recalls the objective of the ECMT and the European Union to halve the number of road victims by 2010 and recommends that "the Committee of Ministers consider organising a joint ECMT-Council of Europe conference on road safety involving other relevant international bodies and non-governmental organisations."

4. With a view to preventing disability, reducing the number of road accident victims is a key objective. It is estimated that road accidents constitute the primary cause of serious head injuries and that 30% of those injured in road accidents remain permanently disabled. On the basis of the figures cited in Resolution 1321 road accidents kill 90,000 people and injure 2 million others annually in Europe. That would therefore mean an additional 600,000 people with permanent disabilities each year in Europe. The striking figures for deaths and injuries on the roads are precisely known and frequently cited in discussions and debates on road safety. However, the number of people who remain disabled for life is not well known. Unfortunately, there are few statistics concerning disabilities caused by road accidents, and it is accordingly not possible to have a very clear view of the situation. In that respect, despite the difficulties inherent in the process, it would be useful, for both cost assessment and prevention purposes, also to encourage analysis of road accident statistics in terms of the degree of permanent disability that may result.

5. As with deaths, a significant decrease in the number of people permanently disabled in road accidents is necessary. It is not for our committee to determine the most effective, most appropriate measures to be taken in order to improve road safety and thereby reduce the number of accidents, deaths and injuries, sometimes leading to permanent disability. We nonetheless believe there can be no doubt that, at the level of preventing disability, achievement of that goal would have a huge impact firstly, and above all, in human terms and secondly as regards the costs to be borne by society as a whole.

6. Lastly, with regard to the Parliamentary Assembly's recommendation concerning the organisation of a joint ECMT-Council of Europe conference on road safety involving other relevant international bodies and non-governmental organisations, our committee supports this idea and suggests that such a conference should lay strong emphasis on disabilities caused by road accidents. As a matter of fact, such emphasis has never been brought to an international conference, it could be the starting point of a new political approach based not only on the reduction of deaths but also on the prevention of disabilities. This approach could then be translated into new road accidents prevention instruments at national level including statistics and specific campaigns. Although it is not in a position to organise a conference, the CD-P-RR would welcome the opportunity to participate and make a contribution, for example by sending a representative. Specialist NGOs, people with disabilities and their relatives could also be invited as witnesses to the need for a significant, lasting reduction in the number of road accidents and in all the human tragedies they unfortunately bring with them. The experience of these associations and their members who have been through road accidents and their consequences is highly valuable. They could share ideas and inspire measures that could also be included in road safety policies.

¹ The conclusions and recommendations are included in two publications: “Road traffic and drugs” (2000) and “Road Traffic and psychoactive substances” (under preparation).