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