Motor industry welcomes UK support for voluntary agreement on Pedestrian Protection
The SMMT today hailed the decision by the government to support
a voluntary agreement, set to improve pedestrian protection features on new
cars, as the most effective way to reduce injuries in road accidents.
The Secretary of State for Transport Local Government and the
Regions this afternoon announced that the UK would support a negotiated approach
rather than wait for a European Directive.
The voluntary agreement will offer 25 per cent of the fatality
reduction and 60 per cent of the serious injury reduction expected in the European
Enhanced Vehicle Safety Committee (EEVC) proposal on pedestrian protection in
the short term. The full EEVC benefits are to achieved in the second phase.
Christopher Macgowan SMMT chief executive said ‘This landmark
decision by the UK government presents the opportunity to deliver real benefits
to pedestrians, rather than wait for lumbering legislation. The motor industry
has an excellent track record in delivering on its commitments and we look forward
to working together in delivering this tough assignment.’
ENDS
Note to editors:
- The European automotive industry is already committed to
a voluntary agreement to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 per cent by 2008 from
1995 levels. ACEA, the European automobile manufacturers association, recently
reported that CO2 output from new cars is falling by an average 2.5 per cent
per year. The industry is on target to reach the 140 g/km threshold set for
average CO2 emissions from new cars by 2008. - A negotiated agreement between the motor industry and European
Commission to improve pedestrian protection will save more lives than a legal
directive. Through negotiation, interim measures to improve car design are
likely to be in place by 2005, a full three years ahead of any European directive.
Eighty per cent of the benefits of a directive will have been met by that
time, rising to 100 per cent by 2008. This is when provisions of a legally
binding directive would come into force.
