ETSC - European Transport Safety Council

Italy’s alcohol interlock programme moves to implementation phase The Italian Ministry of Transport has published a list of authorised alcohol interlock devices and installation workshops on the government’s online motorist portal. If a driver is caught with a…

Italy’s alcohol interlock programme moves to implementation phase

etsc.eu/italys-alcoh...

Belgium: Hospital data reveals four times more serious road injuries than police records A new report from the Vias Institute has highlighted a large disparity in road safety data in Belgium, revealing that the number of traffic victims admitted to hospitals is nearly four times higher…

Hospital data reveals four times more serious road injuries than police records

etsc.eu/belgium-hosp...

Ireland: RSA study reveals higher level of mobile use among van drivers Data from a new observational study by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in Ireland has shown that drivers of vans are nearly twice as likely to use a handheld mobile phone compared to any other…

Study reveals higher level of mobile use among van drivers

etsc.eu/ireland-rsa-...

Brussels considers curbs on large private pick-ups in “light and safe” zone The newly formed government of the Brussels-Capital Region is considering restrictions on large private pick-up trucks as part of ongoing efforts to make streets safer and more sustainable.

Brussels considers curbs on large private pick-ups in “light and safe” zone

etsc.eu/brussels-con...

Da oggi scatta l’alcolock: chi deve installarlo, il costo (da 2mila euro) e cosa rischia chi tenta di aggirarlo Il ministero dei Trasporti ha pubblicato l’elenco dei dispositivi installabili e le officine autorizzate sul Portale dell’Automobilista. Dopo la condanna definitiva sopra 0,8 g/l scatta l’obbligo:…

Italy is moving forward with its alcohol interlock programme for convicted drink-drivers. A list of authorised devices and installers has been published by the government.

www.corriere.it/cronache/new...

EU road safety progress under threat from new era of deregulation ETSC warns that a shifting political climate is beginning to dismantle the very safety leadership the EU once pioneered.

EU road safety progress under threat from new era of deregulation

etsc.eu/eu-road-safe...

A smartphone screen displaying a red 112 emergency call prompt above a numeric keypad; caption reads 'One number, anywhere in the EU' with a EU flag in the bottom-right corner.

Today is European 112 Day 🇪🇺

📞 112 is the single emergency number across the EU

It’s free, works for all emergencies, and in many countries, help is available in multiple languages.

One number. All emergencies.

Trilogues on “Weights and Dimensions”: Europe must not allow unchecked growth of megatrucks As the European Parliament and the Council of the EU enter trilogue negotiations on the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive, ETSC remains very concerned about how the legislation could…

Europe must not allow unchecked growth of megatrucks

etsc.eu/trilogues-on...

ETSC welcomes European Parliament support for roadworthiness tests for more motorcycles ETSC has welcomed a European Parliament report by German European People’s Party MEP Jens Gieseke, which calls for a significant expansion of the categories of motorcycles required to undergo regular…

ETSC welcomes European Parliament support for roadworthiness tests for more motorcycles

etsc.eu/etsc-welcome...

Opinion: Why we must not roll back life-saving vehicle standards on small cars The continued rise of SUVs and pick-ups in urban centres is a genuine threat to road safety. But making smaller cars cheaper at the expense of safety for drivers, passengers…

Recent comments by the boss of Fiat, suggesting that safety requirements are making small city cars unaffordable and should be stripped back, are misleading and dangerous.

etsc.eu/opinion-why-...

Graduated driver licensing: Northern Ireland to bring in changes for young drivers The new rules will be introduced in October and are described as the most significant reform of driver licensing for 70 years.

Northern Ireland to introduce graduated driving licenses

www.bbc.com/news/article...

1/3 "The ETF is in total shock to hear that within less than a week, Spain is confronted with a second fatal rail accident. Our deep condolences go to all those impacted, to the colleagues and families whose members passed away in this tragic event."

ETF Railways Chair
Gerhard Tauchner

European Railways are deeply saddened by the tragic rail accident in #Adamuz, #Spain.

CER extends its heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives and our thoughts are with all those who have been injured.

(1/3)

Briefing: UNECE talks could accelerate “Level 2++” driving in Europe - with major safety concerns What is happening this week? This week, governments meeting under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) are expected to endorse new rules that expand what advanced assisted driving...

Driver assistance systems are evolving quickly - and UNECE discussions this week could expand what “Level 2” systems are permitted to do in Europe.

ETSC’s new briefing highlights major safety concerns.

etsc.eu/briefing-une...

Recibo las terribles noticias desde Córdoba.

Mi más sentido pésame a las familias y seres queridos de las víctimas del accidente ferroviario y al pueblo español.

Deseo una rápida y completa recuperación a los heridos.

Esta noche estáis en mis pensamientos.

We Still Don’t Know if Robotaxis Are Safer Than Human Drivers And even if self-driving technology proves to be less dangerous, there are many better ways to improve traffic safety and prevent fatal crashes.

We Still Don’t Know if Robotaxis Are Safer Than Human Drivers

www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

UK road safety strategy signals long overdue shift The UK government has published a new road safety strategy that, if fully implemented, would mark a significant change of direction after more than a decade of limited progress.

New: UK road safety strategy signals long overdue shift

etsc.eu/uk-road-safe...

Important announcement from UK gov today on road safety. Note that UK road deaths decreased by a mediocre -8% over the last decade. Norway, another relatively safe country, managed -40%. Norway had a strategy, targets and political will. The UK...not so much.

etsc.eu/euroadsafety...

AI-generated image of the Grand Place in Brussels with an ETSC-themed decoration.

Season's greetings from ETSC 🎄

Read our end-of-year message in full:
mailchi.mp/etsc/seasons...

ETSC response to the European Commission’s proposal on the Small Affordable Cars initiative The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) is deeply concerned by the European Commission’s approach to small car safety timelines and its unprecedented reliance on industry demands in the Small…

“It makes no sense to delay life-saving safety features on the very vehicles that will spend most of their lives on busy city streets surrounded by pedestrians and cyclists. Affordability is important, but it should not be achieved by cutting corners on safety.”

etsc.eu/etsc-respons...

ETSC slams proposed safety exemptions for new small car category Responding to a draft proposal leaked to the Financial Times, the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has warned that plans to grant a ten-year exemption from updating essential safety…

Responding to a draft proposal leaked to the Financial Times, ETSC has warned that plans to grant a 10-year exemption from updating essential safety regulations for a new class of small electric cars will put pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicle occupants at risk.

etsc.eu/etsc-slams-p...

Joint letter to the Commission to establish an EU Road Safety Agency - POLIS Network European civil society organisations urge the European Commission to create an EU Road Safety Agency to strengthen road safety.

We need an EU Road Safety Agency🦺

Road transport remains the only major mode in Europe without an independent safety authority.

🛑Having an EU Agency dedicated to #RoadSafety is essential to achieve the EU’s #VisionZero goal of zero road deaths by 2050.

Read more➡️ shorturl.at/2EYyT

ETSC calls for EU action as data reveal scale of work-related road deaths A major new report by ETSC reveals that thousands are killed every year in collisions linked to work activities or commuting – yet governments and EU institutions still lack even a basic common…

Driving is the most dangerous thing most workers do.

New analysis reveals the alarming scale of work-related road deaths, but poor data is hiding the true cost. We are calling for urgent EU action to standardise definitions and tracking.

Read more: etsc.eu/etsc-calls-f...

@transportenvironment.org
@cleancitiescampaign.org
@olord.bsky.social
@cyklistforbundet.bsky.social
@zukunftfahrrad.bsky.social
@eurocities.eu
@polisnetwork.eu
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@ecf.com

Accepting US car standards would risk European lives, warn cities and civil society Opening the EU market to vehicles certified under US standards would weaken the protections that save lives in Europe, say more than 80 civil society organisations and the administrations of Amsterdam...

We are calling for a stop to "Mutual Recognition" of these dangerous standards. Trade deals shouldn't come at the cost of lives on our streets.

Read more about the risks here:
etsc.eu/accepting-us...

Europe has spent years working toward #VisionZero - the goal of eliminating road deaths.

Accepting these vehicles via trade loopholes undermines that progress. We cannot trade away the safety of vulnerable road users for the sake of easier import rules.

These "light trucks" have massive frontal blind spots.

In dense European cities, this is lethal. A child or cyclist directly in front of a raised hood is effectively invisible to the driver.

These vehicles are incompatible with our urban spaces.

The core issue? US vehicle safety standards are fundamentally different from the EU’s - and significantly weaker.

They pay almost no attention to the safety of people outside the car.

❌ No pedestrian protection standards
❌ Aggressive front-end designs
❌ Weaker tech requirements

Dutch television reports on the threat from US vehicles in the EU-US trade deal YouTube video by European Transport Safety Council

🛑 Is this the future of Europe’s town centres?

Massive 🇺🇸 pick-up trucks are already squeezing onto our streets. But EU-US trade talks could open the floodgates.

Here’s why "Mutual Recognition" is a disaster for road safety. 🧵

youtube.com/watch?v=ckc_gEiNMyY&feature=youtu.be

EU Member States cut back on vital vehicle checks and open door to “monster trucks” in double blow to EU road safety The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has today condemned the outcome of the EU Transport Council, describing the Member States’ position on two key road safety files as a dangerous rollback…

BREAKING: EU Member States cut back on vital vehicle checks and open door to “monster trucks” in double blow to EU road safety

etsc.eu/eu-member-st...