Safety and Security

Road safety is an essential element of sustainability in mobility and transport.
The number of casualties on European roads has halved in the past three decades, while traffic has tripled (Source: European Commission, European Road Safety Action Programme, 2003). The European automotive industry has contributed significantly to the safer use of roads and safer vehicles through continuous improvements in active and passive safety measures.

Further improvements in road safety require an integrated approach involving all relevant actors: policy makers, infrastructure designers and engineers, road users and vehicle manufacturers.

Apart from the inherent safety risk of any road transport due to complex traffic situations, there is an increasing security threat on European roads. Drivers, vehicles and cargo run the risk of falling prey to criminal activities on the road.
For commercial transport in the European Union, the total loss of value caused by theft of cargo and/or freight vehicle is estimated to be more than 8.2 billion € per year. If the loss value is related to the number of loaded trips, a value of some 6.7 € per trip results (Source: NEA, Organised Theft of Commercial Vehicles and Their Loads in the European Union, published by European Parliament, Brussels, 2007).