Road fatalities fall by 29% in 2010

A country-by-country analysis of the data showed that the number of deaths across the EU still varies greatly, with a number of countries including Malta achieving double-digit reductions. The best reductions were recorded in Luxembourg (33%) followed by Malta (29%) Sweden (26%) and Slovakia (26%). However there is still a lot of work to be done.

European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for Transport is encouraged by falling fatalities, with 100,000 lives having been saved since 2001. However he said that there is no room for complacency and the number of injuries and fatalities on European roads is still unacceptable.

“We want to cut the number deaths by half by 2020. For this we will be looking at what kind of cars people drive, where they drive and how they drive."

In July 2010 the Commission adopted challenging plans to reduce the number of road deaths on Europe's roads by half in the next 10 years.  Initiatives proposed in the "European Road Safety Policy Orientations 2011-2020" range from setting higher standards for vehicle safety, to improving the training of road users, and increasing the enforcement of road rules. The Commission is working closely with Member States to implement this programme.

Road safety action programme 2011–20:
The Road Safety action programme sets out amix of initiatives focusing on making improvements to vehicles, infrastructure and road users' behaviour.  

There are seven strategic objectives including improved safety measures for trucks and cars, building safer roads, developing intelligent vehicles, strengthening licensing and training, better enforcement, targeting injuries and a new focus on motorcycles.