The Road to Vision Zero: EU Global Road Safety Action Plan (2021 to 2030)

Road safety is not merely a transportation issue; it is a public health crisis and a development challenge. Taking its long standing leadership a step further, the European Union has drawn an ambitious roadmap aiming for "zero deaths" on roads by 2050. So, when did this plan come into effect and why is it so important?

When and By Whom Was It Accepted?

The European Union's Road Safety Policy Framework, covering the period of 2021 to 2030, takes its foundations from the Valletta Declaration signed by EU Transport Ministers in 2017.

The official framework was published by the European Commission in 2019 and was strongly supported by the European Parliament and the Council in 2020. This plan is also in full alignment with the "Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021 to 2030)" global plan announced by the United Nations (UN). In other words, this is not just the EU's plan, but the European leg of a global consensus.

What is the Goal of the Plan?

The goal set by the EU is quite clear and ambitious:

By 2030:To reduce road deaths and (determined as a target for the first time) serious injuries by 50%
By 2050:Zero deaths and zero serious injuries on roads (Vision Zero). 

Why Is It So Important? The Paradigm Shift

The most important feature distinguishing this action plan from previous ones is the radical change in approach. While the traditional perspective often reduced the problem to "driver error", the new plan puts the "Safe System Approach" at the center.

1. Not an "Accident", but the Reality of a "Crash"

The philosophy of the plan necessitates a revolution in language and perception. Most events experienced in traffic are of a preventable nature. Therefore, instead of the perception of "inevitability" or "fate" brought by the word "accident", the concept of a predictable and preventable crash stands out. Humans can make errors; however, the system must be designed in a way to prevent these errors from turning into a crash or to prevent this crash from being fatal.

You can go to the relevant section by clicking our definitions.

2. Sharing of Responsibility

While the road user was the sole responsible party in the past, the new action plan of the EU distributes the responsibility:

• Engineers designing the road,

• Automotive firms producing vehicles,

• Lawmakers setting the rules,

• And road users.

Everyone has a role in this chain. For example; even if a driver exceeds the speed limit, the infrastructure of the road and the safety systems of the vehicle (for example automatic braking) must be able to tolerate this error.

3. Global Standards and Sustainability

This plan is directly linked with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (especially Articles 3.6 and 11.2). The EU aims to raise road safety standards worldwide by exporting the high safety standards it implements within its own borders (such as vehicle safety regulations) to the global market.

Conclusion: A Commitment for the Future

The EU Road Safety Action Plan is not just a text about reducing statistics. This is an indicator of the value placed on human life. A future where roads are safe not only for vehicles but also for pedestrians, cyclists and children is only possible with such "system oriented" approaches.

Let us not forget; every life lost in traffic is not just a statistic, but an unfinished story.

References

European Commission Road Safety https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu