Boosting road safety across Europe

Drivers speeding or running a red light in EU states other than their home country will be tracked down under a new directive which will provide for exchange of car registration details between member states. The proposal is to be formally approved by the Council after the summer break, following political backing from the European Parliament on 7 July.

© Pavel Losevsky - Fotolia.com

European statistics suggest that a foreign driver is three times as likely to commit a traffic offence as a resident driver. So far, there has been a loophole making it difficult to pursue offenders once they return to their own country, but the new measures will put an end to this impunity and, according to Commission estimates, could save up to 5 000 lives every year.

The directive tackles the four biggest road killers in Europe - speeding, failing to stop at traffic lights, non-use of seat belts and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Three other major traffic offences are also targeted: illegal use of a forbidden lane (such as an emergency or bus lane), illegal use of a mobile phone while driving, and failing to wear safety helmets. In the future, the list may be extended.

Under the new legislation, member states will allow each other access to their vehicle registration data for identification of the owner of the vehicle with which the offence has been committed. Once the owner is identified, the member state in which the offence took place will send him or her a letter setting out the details of the offence and the penalties imposed. The decision on whether to prosecute the case will be taken by the member state in which the offence was committed, in conformity with its national law.

The directive will be applicable throughout the Union two years after its publication in the EU's Official Journal. The United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark, due to their special position under the Lisbon Treaty, are staying outside the system for now but may decide to join it later.

For those planning a road trip abroad, plenty of information on traffic rules in force in different member states is available on the Europa server, in all EU official languages.

More information:
Road safety (on Europa server - Transport)
Road safety (on Europa server - Public Health)
Road safety statistics (on Europa server)