Europe’s transport ministers must support new legislation allowing cross-border enforcement of traffic law, says TISPOL’s new president Wolfgang Blindenbacher.
Ministers will meet to discuss a Directive on the cross-border enforcement of traffic laws in all 27 EU member states. Its main objective is to apply enforcement measures such as speeding, alcohol, seatbelt and red light offences to non-resident traffic offenders through setting up a system for information exchange and proper notification of offenders.
Apparently non -resident drivers represent around 5% of road traffic yet their share of speeding offences is on average around 15%. There is evidence from different member states that these drivers flout traffic laws when travelling abroad as they do not fear punishment.
Mr Blindenbacher says "We cannot stand by and let 42,000 people die on Europe’s roads every year. We need action now so that more drivers will respect the law in whichever country they are driving. A united approach is called for because an estimated 350 to 400 road deaths in Europe could be saved each year."
Members of the European Parliament gave this idea their support in September.
The TISPOL Organisation has been established by the traffic police forces of Europe in order to improve road safety and law enforcement on the roads of Europe. Its main priority is to reduce the number of people being killed and seriously injured on Europe's roads.
Well let’s hope this one passes though the red tape bureaucratic city of Brussels.
Jackie violet - Female First