Increasing the safety of transport and reducing the health consequences of accidents need to be given high priority.
It has been estimated that preventing one road death would save 1 million ECU.
Not wearing a helmet is a factor in more than half of motor cycle fatalities. Additionally, more than half of the deaths involved speeding.
In 1997, the EU launched a new policy aimed at reducing the number of road deaths in the EU from 45,000 to 25,000 by the year 2010. The ten-point plan comprises: 1. reduce speed; 2. tackle alcohol and drug abuse; 3. design safer cars; 4. design safer roads; 5. enforce safety belt use; 6. improve driver training; 7. change driver behaviour; 8. improve first aid for victims; 9. introduce daytime headlights; 10. promote discussion of road safety.