Road Safety: Belgium will have to continue its efforts to achieve the goals.
08 July 2010 - 08 July 2020
 | National Charter Tour

Twenty eight Belgian entities, including associations, companies, institutions and municipalities have signed the European Road Safety Charter at a Signing event on 6 July 2010 in Brussels organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the Belgian Public Service for Mobility and Transports. Three entities also renewed their commitments for road safety at this occasion.

 
Willy Hélin, the Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium, opened the ceremony by welcoming the 90 participants.
 
Speaking at the event, Etienne Schouppe, the resigning Belgian State Secretary for Mobility and Transport, who said that the Belgian EU Presidency is a crucial period, both to evaluate the results of the last decade in the field of road safety, and because of the transition towards a new action plan for road safety for the next ten years.

Neither the EU nor Belgium has achieved the goal of halving the number of road fatalities in ten years. Although, the number of road fatalities in Belgium has decreased with 36% over the last 10 years. This decrease corresponds to the European average. "But 900 people per year is still too many, although recent statistics show a steady decline," said the Belgian Secretary of State. Belgium has to actively work on a further decline in the number of road fatalities and accidents. The new action plan of the European Commission can help by giving new impetus to road safety policy in Europe, including Belgium.
 
Mr. Schouppe also stressed the importance of the contribution of civil and economic society in further reducing fatalities. Companies and interest groups have a social responsibility and can influence the public opinion. The European Road Safety Charter fits into the goal of maximizing public support for initiatives and measures to promote road safety.

Ms Isabelle Kardacz, Head of the Road Safety Unit of the European Commission, spoke about the direction of road safety in Europe and announced the launch of a new Road Safety Action Plan on 20 July. Mrs Aude Delesalle, European Road Safety Charter Coordinator, presented the latest developments of the initiative, particularly the creation of virtual communities which allow the participants of last Tuesday’s event to continue their dialogue online.


Subsequently, the following 31 organisations received their Charter-kits: Association de Parents pour la Protection des Enfants sur la Route (APPER), BASF Anvers, Centre de Recherches routières (CRR)), Colruyt Group, COMA asbl, La Poste SA, FEDEMOT, Fietsersbond asbl, GRACQ - Les cyclistes quotidiens, Groupement pour l’Action Routière asbl (GAR), Institut Belge Pour la sécurité routière (IBSR), ¡Institut pour l’autoCar et l’autoBus (ICB), Instituut voor Duurzame Mobiliteit (IDM) Universiteit Gent, Komimo vzw, Fédération royale belge des Transporteurs et des Prestataires de services logistiques (FEBETRA), Les Scouts – Fédération des Scouts Baden-Powell de Belgique ASBL, Mobiel 21 asbl, OKRA, Trefpunt 55+, Groupe P&V, Ville de Hasselt, Ville de Leuven, Transport en Logistiek Vlaanderen (TLV), Union des Brasseurs Belges, Union Professionnelle du Transport et de la Logistique (UPTR), Université de Liège (ULG), Universiteit Hasselt, bachelor- & masteropleiding verkeerskunde, Vlaamse Confederatie van ouders en ouderverenigingen (VCOV), Zebra vzw en Rondpunt, Fédération Belge de la distribution (FEDIS), DRIVE up Safety kortweg DUS! vzw 'verkeersveiligheidsorganisatie voor jongeren!' et European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD).

 

Belgium  | 07 Jul 2010