Road Safety: another important step towards fewer deaths

"Today we have taken an important step towards safer roads in Europe", said Georges Bach MEP, EPP Group Shadow Rapporteur of an EU Directive facilitating cross-border exchange of information on road safety related to traffic offences.

"This Directive represents another piece of the puzzle towards safer roads and fewer road traffic victims. We have to use every tool in the box if we want to cut the number of road deaths by half by 2020 compared to 2011", continued Bach. "Over the last year, the EU has adopted numerous pieces of legislation to make cars safer, to improve road infrastructure and provide better training for drivers."

"This Directive brings equality between drivers because reckless driving is equally dangerous across the borders", Bach added. The proposal includes many offences like driving under the influence of drugs, using a mobile phone while driving or driving a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.

The previous Directive on the cross-border exchange of traffic offences was annulled by the European Court of Justice last year. The Directive was based on a wrong legal base. "I am happy that we managed to work out a speedy solution, making an opt-out impossible. In addition, we could ensure that the latest data protection provisions are respected", he concluded.