Road safety education in the spotlight

Road safety education is severely lacking in much of Europe. That is the finding of research by the European Transport Safety Commission (ETSC). According to this new report, there are vast differences in the amount of road safety education given to children across Europe, particularly at secondary school level. The research shows that road safety education is provided to children in primary education all over Europe. However, it is not given to youngsters in secondary education in 20% of the 36 European s
January 25, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
Road safety education is severely lacking in much of Europe. That is the finding of research by the European Transport Safety Commission (ETSC). According to this new report, there are vast differences in the amount of road safety education given to children across Europe, particularly at secondary school level.


The research shows that road safety education is provided to children in primary education all over Europe. However, it is not given to youngsters in secondary education in 20% of the 36 European states and regions studied. In addition, the research shows that traffic safety and mobility education is only sparsely addressed in secondary education in most of the states and regions where it is given.

Few states and regions have a legal minimum requirement for the amount of road safety education that should be given at secondary school. And only 50% of states and regions that do offer road safety education set educational goals for what should be taught.

The risk of a road death increases sharply after 13 years of age, as children start to travel independently. For youngsters aged 15-19, road collisions are the main external cause of death. However, it is not known how effective current road safety education practices are at reducing deaths and injuries due to a lack of wide-ranging studies on the issue.

To help tackle this issue, a new event is being run in Madrid providing a focus on traffic education in Europe. This is being coordinated by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Knowledge (VSV) and Fundación MAPFRE. The report has been written in collaboration with more than 30 road safety education experts from across Europe.

The Leveraging Education to Advance Road safety Now! (LEARN!) project aims to promote traffic safety and mobility education across Europe. It will boost the international community of road safety education experts and establish best practice guidelines for the design, testing, implementation and evaluation of road safety education activities and programmes.

The project has a website (%$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external www.trafficsafetyeducation.eu false http://www.trafficsafetyeducation.eu/ false false%>), with resources for road safety education experts and the possibility to sign-up for updates on the latest news, projects, best practice examples and material related to traffic safety and mobility education.

Related Content

  • Wildlife risk to drivers survey being conducted
    June 29, 2016
    A researcher based in Canada is carrying out a research project in the form of a survey assessing the safety risk posed by wildlife to drivers. The risk posed by wildlife to those travelling in vehicles can be severe in some areas and evaluating data can be important for assessing risk levels and awareness of risk levels amongst road users. There is the potential for serious injury or even death in the event of crashes with large animals or at high speeds. Meanwhile a driver avoiding an animal in the roadwa
    Read More
  • ERF and Greek associations team up for road safety event in Athens
    March 13, 2015
    The ERF has teamed up with the Greek road safety associations to organise the Technical Conference on Road Infrastructure Safety Equipment in Athens this month. The financial crisis took its toll on Greek infrastructure development and by 2011 the government had frozen key motorway projects aimed at completing the Greek Trans-European Road Network. But following lengthy negotiations between Greek authorities, financial institutions and the European Commission, a deal was struck in 2014 to re-launch these im
    Read More
  • Construction corruption causes costs to climb
    December 21, 2012
    People are stealing our money ! According to the World Bank Report: “Curbing Fraud, Corruption and Collusion in the Roads Sector” June 2011. “…roads projects around the globe remain plagued by fraud, corruption and collusion…” In some countries, contractors are refusing to participate in tenders/bids because of the extent of corruption. I hope to encourage you to take action to fight Fraud and Corruption (FC). It is impossible to precisely know the extent of Fraud and Corruption. The reason is simple. If F
    Read More
  • Roads are an asset that society cannot live without says the European Road Federation’s new long-term safety manifesto
    April 11, 2013
    Roads are an asset that society cannot live without argues a new manifesto out this month from the European Road Federation, as the lobby group launches a new policy for long-term, effective management of a safe and efficient European road network. Roads represent an incomparable link in the global chain of transport and mobility says the European Road Federation (ERF). The condition of the roads in Europe might look satisfactory at first glance, but what could appear acceptable on the surface can be hiding
    Read More

Highlighted Content