Road safety: objective of the European Union for 2010 and assessment criteria

A few years ago the European Union proposed that its member states take steps to reduce the number of road accidents and their health and social consequences (number deceased, injured, handicapped, etc.). The main objective of this ongoing challenge is a 50% reduction of mortality by these events by 2010. The European Union closely monitors, also through dedicated workshops, projects and achievements of member states. In our opinion, however, too much attention seems to be dedicated to a reduction in the percentage of mortality. It undoubtedly merits attention, but lacking other elements, there is the danger of providing data, in terms of assessment and communication, which may lead to a distortion of the facts. This paper clarifies our point of view and shows why the reduction in the percentage of mortality per accident as well as the starting mortality index should be considered in order to provide a more accurate picture of the trend in the various countries working towards this objective.