GATHERING IN BRUSSELS AT AN INTERNATIONAL EUROTAP TUNNEL SAFETY WORKSHOP, 35 EUROPEAN EXPERTS CALLED FOR GREATER EFFORTS AND MORE DIALOGUE TO REDUCE TUNNEL DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS.
"Europe needs safer tunnels," said Johan Grill, Director General of the FIA European Bureau. Over the last six years, the project EuroTAP has tested some 200 tunnels.
At the meeting, EuroTAP presented 2005 test results with eight out of 49 tunnels failing due to factors such as the lack of escape routes, faulty ventilation, and inadequate telephone and communication facilities. A further 50 tunnels are to be tested in 2006.
"EuroTAP makes people aware of the need for safety and better tunnel driving. But to make tunnels safer we also need more action and dialogue, notably from road administrations and tunnel operators," Johan Grill
The workshop, organized by the European Tunnel Assessment Programme (EuroTAP), is part of a range of initiatives aimed at halving, by 2010, the annual number of road accident deaths in the EU, currently 50,000 across the 25 Member States.
EuroTAP test has encouraged tunnel operators and national authorities to undertake renovation and changes. The published results, and accompanying EuroTAP information tools, are also raising drivers' safety awareness and behaviour when using major tunnels.
“There is much room for dialogue within different positions of the assessment and adaptation to national circumstance,” Stefan Tostmann, European Commission
Stefan Tostmann, Head of the European Commission's Road Safety Unit (DG TREN) praised the EuroTAP initiative. There is much room for dialogue within different positions of the assessment and adaptation to national circumstance, added Tostmann. He also emphasized how ensuring greater safety in the enlarged EU will depend increasingly on more self-regulation.
“Test results plus publicity are effective, with governments and operators often reacting swiftly to improve tunnel safety.” Robert Sauter EuroTAP Project Leader
"The national motoring and touring clubs behind EuroTAP see themselves as “defenders of consumers," added Robert Sauter, EuroTAP Project Leader. “This has meant conducting 'qualitative tests' and practical 'consumer protection' initiatives in the wider field of mobility. We now test infrastructure and not just vehicles. Test results plus publicity are effective, with governments and operators often reacting swiftly to improve tunnel safety."
EuroTAP is a pan-European partnership of 12 automobile clubs from 11 European countries with more than 37 million motorists as members. The European Commission has given some EUR 1.5 million to EuroTAP's total budget of almost EUR 4.2 million. The project, which runs from 2005 until 2007, is coordinated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's Brussels bureau and project management is undertaken by German motoring club ADAC.
EuroTAP - European Tunnel Assessment Programme FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) European Bureau Rue d'Arlon 53, B-1040 Brussels Tel. +32 2 282 0816 - Fax +32 2 280 07 44, info@eurotestmobility.com, http://www.eurotapmobility.com
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