03/06/2016 Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
In a report that was unanimously adopted today, the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development urges member states to earmark 10% of their expenditure on road infrastructure for road safety. Naira Karapetyan (Armenia, EPP/CD) was of the opinion that road safety should become a public health priority.
The report also encouraged member states to improve co-ordination of their practices by taking account of the diversity of laws and policies in Europe and addressing the main risk factors – alcohol, drugs and the use of medicine – by means of awareness-raising campaigns.
The other proposals include town-planning measures that would protect the most vulnerable road users – pedestrians and cyclist – a ban on the use of mobile phones at the wheel, speed limits and technological improvements on all roads and in all vehicles.
According to the WHO, 92 500 people die in road accidents every year in the European Region. They are the main cause of death among young people between 5 and 29 years of age.