Discussions to set up a European road safety agency are ongoing within the European Commission, according to the EU’s new road safety co-ordinator who told MEPs recently that the idea is “gaining ground”.

There are EU agencies for maritime, aviation and railway safety, but not for road transport, which kills thousands more people every year. Kristian Schmidt said that external consultation would take place, but added that the establishment of the agency would “not happen overnight”.

During the meeting in late September several MEPs expressed serious concern over recent rises in road deaths following the end of Covid restrictions. They called for legislative action from the Commission, including on issues such as speeding and alcohol.

Ireland’s Green MEP Ciaran Cuffe posted this tweet: “Discussing road safety at Transport Committee of the European Parliament. We have EU aviation and maritime safety bodies, but with 18,000 deaths every year on our roads, we need an EU road safety agency without delay!”

The European Parliament echoed the European Transport Safety Council by calling last year for a road safety agency to be set up, to recognise the need for better co-ordination of EU road safety issues. This is especially considering new targets, KPIs and the roll-out of complex automated vehicle technology with the need for in-depth crash investigations. 

The EU’s road safety co-ordinator, who appeared before the European Parliament’s Transport Committee for the first time since taking over the position, also said that new legislation on driving licenses and cross-border enforcement of traffic laws would come in the first quarter of next year.

Schmidt is the current director of land transport in the European Commission’s mobility department and will remain in that role, whilst taking on the road safety brief.

Click here to see the full recording of the committee meeting