| Inter-regional cooperation initiative aims to increase use of life-saving technology on Europe’s roads | |||||||||
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Key road safety players came together in Centro Ricerche Fiat in Turin on 18 September 2006 to review how hi-tech safety systems for cars, so called eSafety systems, can help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on Europe’s roads. “Each year there are more than 1.4 million car accidents and 40,000 road fatalities in Europe. Increased use of eSafety systems could bring this number down substantially”, says Jacob Bangsgaard, Project Director for eSafety Support. “By decreasing driver’s workload, detecting dangers and providing support in hazardous situations, such systems could save thousands of lives every year.” With at least 93% of accidents caused by human error, the case for increased driver-assistance is clear. For example, skidding is an important cause of fatalities on Europe’s roads, responsible for as many as 20% of all accidents involving young drivers. Estimates show that Electronic Stability Control systems could reduce the number of accidents resulting in injuries with up to 11%. Organised by eSafety Support, Alessandro Carrotta, in cooperation with Centro Ricerche Fiat, Luisa Andreone, the aim of the Turin eSafety Observers Regional meeting was to review how eSafety players in Austria, Italy and Southern Germany can work together to increase public awareness of the benefits of eSafety systems such as Electronic Stability Control. The meeting featured presentations by the European Commission, Juhani Jääskeläinen, by a representative of the Italian Government, Ciro Esposito, Hand by eSafety Support experts, giving an overview of the eSafety initiative and its achievements to date. The initiative, dating from 2002, is dedicated to halving the number of road deaths in Europe by 2010 through the development and deployment of eSafety systems. National road safety players gave also series of presentations, detailing the status of eSafety development and deployment in the region. At the meeting the AIDE demonstrator vehicle that is under development at Centro Ricerche Fiat has been presented to all attendees. For more information please contact: |
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