Automobile industry and motoring clubs join forces to address youth road safety

Brussels, 12 November – The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), working through its youth initiative Our Future Mobility Now, and in cooperation with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), today held a debate on how to better target young people to improve road safety.

Over the last 30 years, Europe’s roads have become far safer despite a three-fold increase in traffic. Road transport fatalities across the EU have been reduced from above 60,000 in 2001 to around 28,000 today.

However there is still much that can be done to further improve the situation, particularly with regard to young people, who are proportionally over-represented in accident statistics.

“People aged between 15 and 24 make up one fifth of the total fatalities on the road today. We have a collective responsibility to bring this number of young victims down,” stated ACEA Secretary General Erik Jonnaert. “

Vehicle manufacturers are continuing to invest in safety technologies. However, safe vehicles need to be driven by safe drivers on safe roads to be effective,” said Jonnaert.

“Young people are too often the victim of road accidents. We must therefore engage with them to ensure that they are part of the solution. This is why we are holding this debate today, bringing together young people, the industry, motoring clubs, advocacy groups and policy makers.”

“It is by holding discussions such as this one that we can together shape a future where young people can be truly ‘mobile and safe’.”

The event, ‘Target Youth: Mobile and Safe’, examined a wide range of solutions, including the need to invest in education and awareness campaigns, improving driving skills through training, the importance of new vehicle safety technologies and the role of authorities in facilitating the creation of a safer road and driving environment.


Notes for editors

Our Future Mobility Now (OFMN) is a youth-oriented initiative of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). OFMN explores the future of personal, economic and social mobility in a changing world.

About FIA 

  • The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Region I office, based in Brussels, is a consumer body representing 108 motoring and touring clubs and their 38 million members from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. www.fiaregion1.com
  • Contact: Andrea Campbell, Communications Manager; +32 2 282 08 13; acampbell@fia.com

About ACEA

  • The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 14 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.
  • Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.

Contact:

  • Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47.
  • Ben Kennard, Content Editor and Press Manager, bk@acea.auto, +32 487 39 21 82

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About the EU automobile industry

  • 13.0 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
  • 11.5% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
  • €374.6 billion in tax revenue for European governments
  • €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
  • Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
  • €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total
Content type Press release
Vehicle types All vehicles
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