Press Release
More collaboration between European governments and car
manufactures crucial to reducing fatalities, concludes Science &
Technology Forum
Stockholm, Thursday 20th May, 2004 - Leading
scientists are calling for the mandatory installation of preventative
crash technologies on all new vehicles to reduce the number of automotive
fatalities.Achieving this would require greater collaboration between
European Governments and vehicle manufacturers, concluded 100 experts from
the worlds of science, transport and politics who were brought together
for the seventh annual Hitachi Science & Technology Forum 14th-16th
May 2004.
The Forum, which will officially report its conclusions
next month, believes that traditional (so-called passive) safety solutions
such as anti-lock braking systems, air bags and rigid body constructions
have reached a technological plateau.In order to radically reduce the
number of automotive fatalities currently 127,000 a year in Europe alone
- new preventative technologies must be implemented that can help improve
drivers recognition of road conditions and potential traffic hazards.
Examples of these preventative solutions include advanced
lane-keeping technologies, curve and hazard warning systems, nightview
systems, and pre-crash systems.The Forum called for car manufacturers to
shift their focus away from reactive safety features designed to protect
passengers once crashes have occurred to proactive safety systems designed
to prevent crashes occurring in the first place.
The Forum
believes that European Union legislation may be needed to encourage car
manufacturers to improve automotive safety features, if customers are
unwilling to pay for technologically advanced safety solutions as optional
extras.Regulatory environments will also need to be updated to take
account of security, privacy and liability issues arising as a result of
the application of new technologies, if the benefits are to be maximised.
The Forum called for European governments to work more closely with car
manufacturers, including research into user acceptance and attitudes to
the new technologies.
Dr. Michiharu Nakamura, Executive Vice
President and Executive Officer and General Manager, Research and
Development Group, Hitachi, Ltd.said:
Delegates concluded that the
most effective strategy to increase the take-up of preventative safety
technologies was for governments, road user groups, automotive
manufacturers and road authorities work more closely together .Tragically
at present in Europe about 127 000 people die as a result of road traffic
accidents each year and a further 2.4 million are injured. Improved public
education regarding road safety was believed to be vitally important if
traffic incidents are to decrease.
The theme of the Forum was the
The impact of transportation and IT on European society and attracted
such key figures as Professor Phil Goodwin, Professor of Transport Policy
and Director ESRC Transport Studies Unit, University College London and Mr
Patrick Labia, Head of Division, Urban Public Transport Division, Ministry
of Transport, France.
A series of lectures and debates were held
under three sub themes of safety, security and efficiency each focusing on
both transportation technologies and their societal impact.The full
conclusions will be published in a report next month, which will be
circulated to European Commission officials, members of the European
Parliament, officials from member states and Hitachi contacts across
Europe. The Forums objective is to contribute to the European policy
debate. |
