HUIZEN, The Netherlands, October 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Through a resolution, La Prevention Routiere Internationale has called for the European Commission to do everything possible to drastically reduce the number of casualties in traffic. Because of the fact that on the European roads this decrease lags behind significantly and even came to a stop in 2007, the PRI is of the opinion that the objective of the European Union to reduce the number of casualties in traffic in 2010 to 27.000, is far from being obtained. Last year, 43.000 people were killed in accidents on European roads.

The PRI is of the opinion that the European Commission has to take action very soon in order to drastically reduce the number of traffic victims. In order to point out how high the annual death toll actually is, there is a comparison of five medium-sized airplanes per week in the European Union.

One concrete example of an effective traffic measure is, according to the PRI, the compulsory introduction of energy-saving daytime running lights (DRL) in both a rule of conduct and a vehicle rule. If in this manner greater visibility of road users in all EU member states is increased, the number of traffic accidents will significantly decrease. Because of this there will be a huge gain in traffic safety. The PRI bases its case on various international studies.

Other initiatives that the European Commission should take according to the PRI especially concern the limitation of speeding, drinking and driving, not using a seat belt and "fatigue". According to the PRI, these four sources of accidents are responsible for a large majority of the annual number of traffic casualties in the European Union. The PRI also calls for a consultation and collaboration with the European Commission soon, so that traffic safety will, without exemption, improve in all 27 EU member states.

Resolution Because - The number of casualties in traffic on European roads remains at an unacceptable level of 43.000 deaths in 2007 (five medium-sized airplanes per week in the European Union); - during the period 2001-2007 there was talk in the EU of approximately 20 percent less deaths in traffic, while this decrease in accordance with the EU objective road traffic safety should have been 37 percent; - this decrease is now 0 percent (2007), while in 2006 it was still 5 percent; - the objective of the EU to limit the number of casualties from 54.000 in 2001 to 27.000 in 2010 is severely slowed down and because of this is now unattainable;

The PRI calls for the European Commission to - do everything possible to bring back the EU objective on road traffic safety within reach soon; - to take various measures that can drastically reduce the number of road traffic accidents; - take the lead in making compulsory energy-saving Daytime Running Lights in both a rule of conduct and a vehicle rule in those EU member states in which this is not the case, as to improve the visibility of road users and the chance of less traffic accidents, which leads, according to various international studies, to more safety in traffic; - start initiatives that limit the number of road traffic casualties in the area of speeding, driving while under influence, not using a safety belt, and "fatigue", because these four sources of accidents are responsible for a large majority of the annual number of deaths in traffic; - talk about this with the PRI soon and if possible work together on this.

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For Media Information Please Contact: La Prevention Routiere Internationale - PRI, P.O. Box 423, 1270 AK Huizen, The Netherlands, Tel: +31-35-524-88-33, Fax: +31-35-524-88-98, E-mail: contact@lapri.info, joopgoos@lapri.info