Road safety minister to hear details of life-saving pedestrian protection
measures
Design measures that will improve pedestrian safety and cut
down on road deaths will be presented by the motor industry to a meeting of
the Government’s Road Safety Advisory Panel today.
Chaired by Minister for Roads and Road Safety, David Jamieson
MP, the Panel will hear how 80 per cent of the benefits of a Directive can be
achieved up to three years early, if MEPs opt to support a voluntary agreement.
Car makers will also take the opportunity to re-affirm their commitment to deliver
the full benefits of a Directive on time, through a programme of joint research
and constructive dialogue.
Today’s meeting comes soon after the European Commission backed
the industry’s proposals. Commissioner Erkki Liikanen recently described design
targets as ambitious and an important step towards reducing death and injuries
among pedestrians and other road users.
The industry’s proposals include changes which promise to limit
the effect of a pedestrian impact and prevent accidents happening in the first
place. As part of the measures, car makers will propose that rigid bull bars
are no longer installed on new vehicles or marketed as spare parts from 2002.
All new vehicles will also be fitted with daytime running lamps by 2002 and
anti-lock braking systems as standard by 2003.
Commenting on today’s meeting, SMMT chief executive Christopher
Macgowan said, ‘The industry is committed to delivering the targets it has set
for improving vehicle design and we welcome the opportunity to present our views
to the Road Safety Advisory Panel today. We will continue to work with all stakeholders
to make sure that the real benefits of a negotiated agreement are achieved sooner
rather than later.’
Notes to editors:
- The Road Safety Advisory Panel was established following
the launch of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy, Tomorrow’s Roads – Safer
for Everyone. Its objectives are to ensure that Government keeps up to date
with initiatives on road safety issues and, in particular, to monitor the
progress of the strategy and the achievement of targets to reduce road casualties.
- The RSAP includes representatives from the main stakeholders
with an interest in improving road safety. These include local government,
government agencies, the police, safety groups, motoring clubs, the motor
industry and road safety officers.
