| According to recent studies, European motorists | | | | Member States and allowed the EU Commission |
| want to buy safer cars but are put off by what | | | | to understand users' attitudes towards new |
| they think of being a high price for car safety | | | | technologies and their level of knowledge and to |
| features that could bring down the number of car | | | | decide on further actions, like public |
| accident claims. | | | | demonstrations, media events and campaigns. |
| Some motorists also do not fully understand the | | | | The survey showed that for the majority of |
| benefits of electronic stability control (ESC), for | | | | motorists, safety is of high importance when |
| example, and other high-end technology systems | | | | buying a car but they don't want to pay extra for |
| and the role they play in preventing car accidents | | | | safety systems. This could be because they feel |
| and reducing the number of car accident claims. | | | | that cars should be safe without having to pay |
| Vivian Reding, European Commissioner for | | | | for the privilege. |
| Information Society and Media says, "Together | | | | Safety and fuel consumption are the top criteria |
| with industry we are working hard to develop | | | | next to price in choosing a car. Over 80 per cent |
| intelligent safety systems. Member states and | | | | of Europeans want ESC (electronic stability |
| stakeholders must ensure that these dramatically | | | | control) in their car and ESC is perceived as an |
| important and efficient technologies are quickly | | | | extension of the already well-known ABS. |
| taken in use in all markets in Europe. These | | | | Over 70 per cent of Europeans want in-car |
| survey results underline how strongly Europeans | | | | emergency call (eCall) in their ar, which can save |
| feel and why we must all act now." | | | | lives if a car accident occurs. The European |
| The European Commission has recognised | | | | Commision has welcomed the recent |
| motorist concerns and is trying to raise | | | | public-private communication platform |
| awareness and release more information to the | | | | "eSafetyAware!" to promote safety technology. |
| public about intelligent safety systems. | | | | What is the eSafety Aware programme? |
| Road safety is shifting more and more to in-car | | | | Esafety aware is a programme to improve public |
| systems that could reduce the number of car | | | | awareness of in-car safety systems designed to |
| accidents. This involves advanced information | | | | reduce car accidents and car accident claims. |
| communication technologies (ICTs) which help to | | | | The programme focuses on commercial |
| develop intelligent safety systems to save lives | | | | awareness campaigns chaired by the Foundation |
| and reduce the severity of personal injuries. | | | | of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). It |
| The rapid deployment and take-up of these | | | | has 26 founding members representing motoring |
| systems would benefit all road users. This | | | | clubs, road safety authorities, road operators and |
| requires, however, that car buyers and others are | | | | insurance providers. |
| informed about safety systems and understand | | | | The campaigns are designed to improve public |
| their benefits. | | | | awareness about safety features like ESC, which |
| As a part of the Intelligent Car Initiative, launched | | | | can reduce the incidence of road traffic accidents |
| in February 2006, the Commission initiated two | | | | by 20 per cent. |
| surveys to learn about the attitudes of drivers | | | | Europe still has more than 41,000 road-related |
| towards safety systems designed to reduce car | | | | deaths every year and the personal and financial |
| accident claims. | | | | cost for families is extremely high. |
| The surveys were performed in all 25 EU | | | | |