Commission backs road campaign

Date: 12/09/02

A RED Cross campaign to cut the 40,000 deaths that occur on EU roads each year was due to be launched in Brussels today (12 September).

The European Commission is backing the initiative, which will focus in particular at reducing the toll among 15-24-year-olds who account for 25 of the fatalities.

Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio is urging member states to work harder to tackle what she calls the 'silent disaster'.

The Spaniard said their ultimate aim should be 'vision zero' - no deaths on the roads - by 2010.

Over the past year, the 15 Red Cross societies in the EU have been promoting an awareness campaign to encourage young people to learn first aid techniques.

Studies suggest that 57 of road deaths occur within minutes of the accident - the Red Cross says many of those lives could be saved by prompt first aid at the scene.

De Palacio was due to be joined at today's launch by Isabelle Durant, the Belgian minister for transport and mobility, and Princess Astrid, president of the Belgian Red Cross.

A Red Cross campaign to cut the 40,000 deaths that occur on European Union roads each year was launched in Brussels on 12 September 2002.