The revision of the Directive on road infrastructure safety management is included in the third and last ‘Europe on the Move’ package that follows on the 2016 Low Emission Mobility Strategy and the previous Europe on the Move packages of May and November 2017. This third package focuses on the delivery of the September 2017 new industrial policy and includes initiatives whose purpose is to support the transition towards a safe, clean, automated and connected mobility for all.
The Commission adopted on 17 May 2018 the proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management together with other legislative and non-legislative initiatives. In order to promote a safe mobility, the Commission is proposing a common framework for road safety over the 2021-2030 period and two legislative proposals: one on vehicle and pedestrian safety (see related file on type-approval of motor vehicles as regards their general safety) and this one, on road infrastructure safety management.
The objective of the legislative proposal is to improve road infrastructure safety management, to reduce both the number of accidents and their severity. The proposed revision of the existing legislation notably proposed to extend the scope of the Directive beyond the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) to motorways and primary roads outside the network as well as all roads outside urban areas that are built using EU funds. It improves transparency and the follow-up of infrastructure safety management procedures and introduces a network-wide road assessment to map the risks of accidents. It proposes to set general performance requirements for road markings and road signs making it easier for cooperative, connected and automated mobility systems, and proposes to systematically take into account vulnerable users in all road safety management procedures.
The Parliament has adopted numerous resolutions regarding or covering road safety. In a 2015 resolution on the implementation of the 2011 white paper on transport, Parliament pushed for stronger action on the main causes of deaths and injuries, and called for road safety measures within the upcoming road package and a mid-term review of the Commission’s road safety programme 2011-2020. Regarding the revision of the directive on road infrastructure safety management, Parliament called for the extension of its four main measures to other parts of the road network, including all parts of motorways, rural and urban roads. The EP also asked for a proposal on reviewing the general safety regulation and the pedestrian protection regulation. The legislative proposal is assigned to the Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), with Daniela Aiuto (EFDD, Italy) appointed rapporteur. The rapporteur’s draft report was presented at the 15 October TRAN Committee meeting.
The Austrian Presidency mentioned that progress on this proposal, and more generally on road safety, would be one of its priorities and discussions have started within the Council Working Party on Land Transport.
References:
- EP Legislative Observatory, Procedure file on road infrastructure safety management: improving the safety performance of road infrastructure, 2018/0129(COD)
- European Commission, Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management, COM(2018) 274
- Directive 2008/96 of 19 November 2008 on road infrastructure safety management
- European Commission, Communication on Europe on the Move, Sustainable Mobility for Europe: safe, connected, and clean, COM(2018) 293
- European Commission, Europe on the Move: Commission completes its agenda for safe, clean and connected mobility, Press Release, 17 May 2018
- European Parliament, Resolution of 9 September 2015 on implementation of the 2011 White Paper on Transport: taking stock and the way forward towards sustainable mobility, 2015/2005(INI)
- Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Programme of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, June 2018
Further reading:
For further information: Ariane Debyser, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu
As of 20 October 2018
As of 20/10/2018.