The Commission wants more engagement of youth in road safety

The European Commission is dedicating the 4th European Road Safety Day to seek a more engagement of youth in this subject. The main objective of this Day is to raise awareness of the challenges relating to road safety among decision‑makers and public opinion and to change road users' behaviour so that mobility is safe and accessible to all.

During the 4th European Road Safety Day celebration, the European Commission will seek to raise awareness of youth on this subject. Therefore, it will organise a conference with the Cyprus Presidency, which will takes place on 25 July in Nicosia (Cyprus). The conference brings together youth groups, road safety organisations and road safety officials from all EU Member States, as well as from neighbouring countries for a day of discussions, presentations and workshops. European Road Safety Days 2010 focus on injured, special users and infrastructures.

In addition the event will bring the opportunity to launch the new European Youth Forum for Road Safety Facebook page to continue fostering debate and awareness among the growing community of young European activists involved in road safety. Also a new road safety video targeted at young citizens will spread the message that 100,000 lives were saved between 2001 and 2010 - and that together we can continue saving more lives by 2020.

Although road deaths for the 18-25 age group decreased by 49% from 2001 to 2010, young car drivers are particularly vulnerable. 19% of road fatalities in the EU in 2010 affected young people aged between 18-25 years old (although this age group comprise only 10% of the total population). This means that those aged between 18-25 face almost twice as high a risk of dying in traffic accidents.