The European Road Safety Charter Excellence in Road Safety Awards were presented by Mr Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, in Brussels on 26 November 2007

Brussels
 
Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, the Commissaire in charge of transport, presided at the second Excellence in Road Safety Awards ceremony on 26 November 2007 in Brussels, recognising the seven most innovative and successful initiatives undertaken by European Road Safety Charter signatories.

A laboratory of ideas

“The added value of the Charter lies in the huge variety of your commitments, providing truly innovative solutions. The Charter operates like a laboratory of ideas, which you nourish with your specific experiences”, Jacques Barrot reminded the participants and Excellence in Road Safety Award-winners. The Vice-President of the European Commission also highlighted the specific principles underpinning the action of the European Road Safety Charter and which represent its originality: shared responsibility, proximity and the exchange of in-the-field experiences.

Recognition of exemplary activities

Recognised for the clarity, innovative nature, performance and educational dimension of their actions, which are unmistakeably exemplary practices, the seven award-winners went up to the rostrum one by one to receive their awards and express a common belief: the commitment to road safety under the charter can be transferred into highly targeted and effective responses to specific problems faced daily by all of the organisations that represent and involve civil society.

Seven exemplary award-winners

• The road transport group Norbert Dentressangle (France), represented by Mr Vincent Lecerf, Director of Human Resources, won the award in the Large Companies and Multinationals category for its prevention actions undertaken for its employees who use roads.
• The driving school Motoryzacyjna Akademia Kierowcow (Poland) won the award in the SME category for the free road safety training sessions that it provides for children and their families.
• Automobil Clubul Roman (Romania), represented by Mr Constantin Niculescu, President, won the award in the Federations and Associations category for making road safety a priority in Romanian society.
• The Prevention Centre of the Czech Police Museum (Czech Republic), represented by Mr Lubomir Kaspar, Chief Officer, won the award in the Institutions category for the clarity and educational quality of its proximity interventions.
• Atelier Scolaire (France), represented by Mr Jean Pineau, Director General, won the award in the NGO category for the innovative nature of its road risk awareness learning actions carried out among adolescents.
• The city of Kosice (Slovak Republic), represented by Marek Vargovcak, Deputy Mayor, won the award in the Cities and Regions category for the originality of its prevention campaign for drivers and involving children from the city.
• The province of Crotone (Italy), represented by Mr Fabio Bruno Pisciuneri, received the special Multiple Commitment award in recognition of its network action, which resulted in the signature of the European Road Safety Charter by over 30 Italian entities in this province.

15 new members sign the charter in presence of Mr Jacques Barrot

Fifteen newcomers, mostly major companies from all over the European Union, also joined the charter community and signed the European Road Safety Charter during the ceremony.

A powerful and pragmatic network up against a huge challenge

Three years after the launch of the ERSC, 12,000 lives are now saved every year on European roads. “The aim is to contribute directly to saving 25,000 lives on the roads by 2010”, said Jacques Barrot. We are halfway there, and the challenge is huge. Unprecedented mobilisation of charter community and civil society actors is necessary. This is not weakening: 350 new members joined the charter community in 2007. “I should like to note the commitments carried out in the two new Member States, which joined the EU at the beginning of this year: 24 signatories in total from Bulgaria and Romania”, noted Mr Jacques Barrot.

The event provided the organisations present with the opportunity to observe the flexible and widespread power of the network built by the charter – which by the end of 2007, will have 1,000 signatories - and to set dates for the objectives to be achieved. It also enabled the participants to strengthen their ties and exchange experiences and good practices in order to act quickly and better in response to road accidents, which remain one of the primary causes of deaths in Europe.