Malta is a small country taking significant steps to improve road safety. The majority of accidents involve motorists between the ages of 25 and 39 making them a prime target group for improving road safety awareness. This is a major concern.
The European Road Safety Charter presentation and signing event, taking place in Valletta on October 23rd, will focus on new commitments from civil society and private companies in order to spread the prevention message and take concrete actions towards a safer environment.
During the event, the European Commission and The Maltese Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, The Hon. Austin Gatt, will invite new signatories to pledge their unique contribution to helping save 25,000 lives a year in the EU. Representatives from Maltese companies, associations and Non-governmental organisations will participate in the event.
Malta is a small country, with the lowest mortality rate resulting from road accidents within the entire EU and can use this as a solid foundation to work upon in improving road safety. Each year, 50,000 fatalities occur on EU countries’ roads.
Latest figures by the National Statistics Office show that from April to June 2008 there were 4703 reported accidents in Malta and Gozo, an average of 45 accidents daily. The statistics reveal that the majority of accidents involve motorists between the ages of 25 and 39.
The European Road Safety Charter is a framework for major stakeholders from Malta to provide a concrete response to the problems they face every day. The signing event will also include motivating testimonials from an organisation playing an active role in road safety.
By joining the European Road Safety Charter at this event, Maltese signatories will be welcomed into anever-growing European community of practitioners. By October 2008, 1,130 entities had signed the charter, undertaking commitments that demonstrate a great awareness about road safety with one common challenge: to contribute to the reduction of road fatalities by half before 2010.
The event will take place on October 23rd, 2008 at 3.00p.m, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre Valletta VLT1645 in Malta.

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Daniel Jacobs via e-mail:
daniel.jacobs@paueducation.com, or telephone: (+34) 933 670 434.