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Brussels, 22 June 2010

“Reducing alcohol-related deaths on European roads: an NGO perspective”. Brussels, 22 June 2010. Vojtech EKSLER Policy Analyst. Introduction to ETSC. A science-based approach to road safety policy.

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Brussels, 22 June 2010

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  1. “Reducing alcohol-related deaths on European roads: an NGO perspective” Brussels, 22 June 2010 Vojtech EKSLER Policy Analyst

  2. Introduction to ETSC A science-based approach to road safety policy • Bringing together 42 organisations from across Europe to promote science based transport safety measures at EU level. • More then 200 experts contributing to ETSC’s Reviews, Policy Papers, Newsletters, Positions, Press Releases, etc. • 11 Secretariat staff members do their utmost to insert the knowledge of ETSC members and experts into EU transport safety policy-making • The European Commission, member organisations, member states and corporate sponsors are funding our work. • 2 Drink Driving programmes: “Safe & Sober” and “ Drink Driving policy network”.

  3. Alcohol-related work of ETSC Safe & Sober Campaign (supported by the VOLVO Group) • improving local, regional and national policies for the prevention of Drink Driving in commercial transport; • addressing measures relating to education; enforcement and engineering. Book the date: 6th October 2010: Safe & Sober at the European Parliament Drink-driving Policy Network (supported by DIAGEO) • improving national policies for the prevention of Drink Driving • identifying and promoting best practice

  4. Things have changed… Old advertisements promoting drinking in transport…

  5. Drink Driving in the EU • Drink driving in the EU:up to 2% of drivers with an illegal BAC • Up to 10,000 road deaths annually (25%) • Around 35% of driver deaths • Alcohol related crashes are the leading cause of death in the age group16-24 • Killer Nr.1 in France • Alcohol-attributable deaths in road traffic decreased by about 5.7% per year since 2001, other road deaths by 4.2%.

  6. EU effort An EU strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol related harm: 4th priority aim: reduce alcohol-related fatalities /COM(2006) 625 final/ • The EC adopted in 2001 a legally not binding recommendation of a 0.5 BAC limit for all drivers and 0.2 BAC limit for commercial drivers (2001/116/EC) Before the adoption it was discussed about a common BAC limit for 13 years since 1988. • Setting the limit is perceived as a matter of national sovereignty and competency by MSs • Commission recommendation on enforcement in road safety (2004/345/EC)

  7. BAC limits across the EU • 13 EU countries are in line with EU recommendations on maximum BAC legal limit (2001) • Only 9 EU countries are in line with the science-based recommendations • 3 countries are currently in the process of lowerig BAC limits • Rationale: • Drivers with a BAC of between 20 mg/100 ml and 50 mg/100 ml have at least a three times greater risk of dying in a vehicle crash than those drivers who have no alcohol in their blood. This risk increases to at least six times with a BAC between 50 mg/100 ml ). • But: A limit needs to be enforced!!! Source: DG MOVE, EC, 2010 and ETSC members

  8. Enforcement • Enforcement • Chance to be breath-tested: max. 1:5 in one year • Nine countries systematically breath-test all stopped drivers • Aspects to be considered: • In many countries still common to buy alcohol at petrol stations • Many drivers under the influence are hard core drinkers, hard to keep out of car wheel • Technologies could help addressing problems with traditional enforcement methods

  9. Alcolock barometer X • Regulations on the installation of alcohol interlocks needed. • EU Recommendation on the use of alcolocks by repeated offenders could be considered.

  10. ETSC’s recommendations BAC limit: • Introduce a common BAC limit in the EU of 0.5 mg/ml (0.2 mg/ml for commercial drivers). Enforcement: • Transpose the EC recommendation on enforcement into a legally binding Directive. • Apply evidence breath-testing for higher detterence • Promote alcolocks for commercial transport and recidivist offenders and set up best practice guidelines.

  11. To know more…. Newsletter to monitor drink driving safety policy developments in the EU www.etsc.eu Thank you for your attention!!!

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