European Parliament
Ribeiro e Castro (UEN ),
in writing
. –
(PT)
Naturally, I fully support this report. Firstly, because I believe it is crucial and of the utmost importance to reduce the number of fatalities on Europe’s roads, which today stands at around 45 000 per year and mainly because I am convinced that the compulsory use of seatbelts has made a positive contribution to reducing these tragic figures. It is indeed bizarre that in the third millennium, road accidents are the main cause of death amongst children. As a Portuguese citizen, I am particularly concerned to note the fact that my country, together with Spain and Greece, is responsible for a significant share of Europe’s total number of fatalities.
As the rapporteur states, this proposal must be seen simply as an integral part of a broader action plan. In this context, I think that this plan in particular could be linked with European transport policy and seek for example, to provide safer alternatives to road transport as swiftly as possible. Furthermore, I believe it is crucial to invest in implementing genuinely preventive measures since, although the safety belt is an important measure, it serves only to minimise the effects of accidents. I am referring, in particular, to improving road signage, to stepping up passive protection, to monitoring...
Explanation of vote abbreviated in accordance with Rule 137(1) of the Rules of Procedure

