A campaign to reduce the number of road deaths throughout Europe began yesterday when EU transport ministers, motoring organisations and the Formula 1 world champion racing driver, Michael Schumacher, joined forces to raise the profile of road safety.
In a ceremony in Dublin Castle as part of Ireland's EU Presidency, transport ministers from the 15 EU member-states and 10 accession countries witnessed the signing of the Road Safety Charter by 39 organisations representing the motor industry and safety, drinks and insurance interests. Each organisation or company signed an individual commitment to achieve certain road safety goals and measures.
Michael Schumacher, who has been F1 world champion six times, attended the ceremony to raise awareness of the first UN/WHO global day of action on road safety on World Health Day today.
Globally, some 1.2 million people are killed each year in road accidents.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, said that the aim of the EU Action Programme on Road Safety was to halve the 40,000 deaths per year on European roads by 2010.
The reality of the human tragedy behind the statistics was brought to the conference yesterday by the President of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, who told those present that his daughter, Mary, had died in a road accident.
A prime supporter of the charter, Mr Ari Vatanen MEP, spoke of his grief when he was eight and his father died at the wheel.
Mr Brennan asked what better work transport ministers could do than save 20,000 lives per year.
"Over the next six years we have the hugely ambitious target to tackle the slaughter on the roads," he added.
The European Commission Vice-President, Ms Loyola de Palacio, called for enforcement of the rules, which she said was of paramount importance. Countries with high levels of enforcement had fewer fatalities.
The Federation Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA), the world governing body of motor sport, which initiated the UN/WHO move, was represented by its president, Mr Max Mosley, and by Mr David Ward.
Michael Schumacher, who gave an impromptu press conference after the signing ceremony, said that he hoped lives would be saved. Queried as to whether he was a good role model, particularly for young men who drive at speed, he said that the message to young men was if someone was a good driver and had ability, they should use that to protect other drivers rather than go out to prove something.
He said that a lot of accidents were caused because drivers over-estimated what they could do. Calling for everyone to wear seat-belts, he said that he would never drive a racing car or a road car without one.
Mr Brennan said he thought Michael Schumacher was a good role model for young people as he took driving seriously and his message was to be careful on the roads.