EXERCISE FROM PAGE 9

Although the numbers of death caused in traffic accidents in the EU is going down, experts are still trying to find ways of reducing the number throughout the EU to around fatalities per year by 2010. Traffic safety is improving but experts believe that achieving the 2010 goal will prove difficult. Recent statistics show that in 2005 in the EU 41.600 people were killed in road accidents. Although progress has been made, most experts agree that this figure will have fallen to only around 32.000 by 2010, which means that the EU target will be missed by about 7.000. On the other hand, as the amount of traffic is increasing it is possible to argue that the situation is not as bad as it looks. However one interprets the statistics, it remains true that as times goes on.It is becoming harder and harder to reduce the figures especially accident-reduction schemes cost a lot of money. Many have tried and failed to reduce the number of accidents, and in the UK as a whole, only Sweden is pursuing the goal of zero accidents. Accident reduction is more difficult for newer EU member who are currently facing very rapid growth in traffic and are having difficulty in building new roads and introducing safety measures at a fast enough rate. To complicate matters, most new members have very little experience in dealing with the demands of heavy traffic. Experts suggest that any programme must also set about changing the way drivers behave. Despite what people often say it seems to be the younger generation that cause most accidents. In line with this research, many countries are introducing tougher driving tests, and are concentrating on the main causes of accidents; speed, reckless overtaking, alcohol, and over-confidence.