Behaviour

There are simple things we can all do to help keep our roads safe. It is reckoned that, if everybody fastened their seatbelt, respected speed limits, and didn't drive under the influence of alcohol, we could save more than 12 000 lives a year on European roads.

• Distraction Drivers need to keep their attention focused on surrounding traffic at all times – not just for their own safety but for the sake of their passengers and other road users too.
• Professional drivers Tiredness and speeding are common causes of accidents among drivers of lorries, coaches and company cars. Road accidents are the leading cause of work-related death in industrialised countries.
• Driver training To get a licence, some categories of drivers require additional instruction besides the usual lessons. For example, in the EU professional drivers must have special training. And many repeat offenders are asked to enrol in rehabilitation programmes to improve their behaviour on the road.
• Enforcement Traffic laws must be enforced - not just to sanction violations but also to deter offenders and encourage responsible driving.
• Fitness to drive Drivers in Europe must meet minimum standards of physical and mental fitness to obtain a driving licence. However, individual EU countries can introduce stricter requirements.
• Seat belts Seat belts are the easiest and cheapest way to avoid injury in a crash. They do not require any special technology and are fitted in all cars. Since 2006, wearing seatbelts is compulsory in all vehicles throughout the EU.
• Speeding One of the biggest problems in road safety, speeding greatly increases the risk of accident. It is a key factor in around 30% of fatal road accidents.