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EuroTAP 2005 - 2007 is finishing but action is still needed!
EuroTAP, the three-year European Tunnel Assessment Programme started in 2005. With support from the European Commission EuroTAP has fulfilled an ambitious programme of testing, assessing, informing and improving major tunnels on the TransEuropean Road Network. The EuroTAP partners, 12 automobile clubs from 11 countries, led by Germany's ADAC together with the FIA, Fédération International de l'Automobile, have examined over 152 tunnels, some 300 km of tunnel tubes in 18 countries.
EuroTAP consistently built on three pillars of activity:
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systematic and regular testing of Europe's most important road tunnels
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provision of user friendly information developed as a result of regular testing and widely published in the media
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implementation of educational campaigns
Three goals were targeted:
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increased awareness of tunnel safety among decision makers
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more transparent tunnel standards with on-going improvements
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improvements in motorists' behaviour in tunnels
EuroTAP's key findings
Three years of testing revealed the following:
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21% of tunnels or one in every five tunnels failed to meet the minimum standards set out in the European Directive on tunnel safety.
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25% of the key actors in assuring the safety management of major road tunnels do not receive regular training.
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60% of Europe's most important road tunnels demonstrated a high level of safety and achieved a rating of "good" or "very good".
EuroTAP 2005 - 2007 may be finishing but action is still needed, especially in older tunnels!
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EuroTAP 2008: the future calls for more action!
EuroTAP continues in 2008 with the support of the FIA Foundation, conducting further tunnel inspections and closely monitoring the implementation of the European Tunnel Directive with a view to informing motorists. The partners, now 19 automobile clubs in 18 countries - all members of the FIA - will independently assess 31 major European road tunnels important for circulation.
The EuroTAP assessment methodology examines over 200 different criteria associated with a tunnel's structure and safety management. It has been developed by ADAC of Germany together with tunnel experts (Deutsche Montan Technologie (DmT). Expertise has also been provided by the European Commission and other international bodies such as PIARC, WP1 of the UNECE and CEDR.
All inspected tunnels are assessed according to four protocols:
EuroTAP 2008 will continue to focus attention on the needs of mobile consumers who use tunnels:
a) Raising awareness remains the key priority among tunnels users by providing comprehensive information on the most important tunnels, by teaching correct tunnel behaviour and promoting tunnel safety at national and international level through discussion platforms for tunnel experts. New tunnel info sheets will be developed and existing ones will be updated.
B) Developing a psychology of safety - though the potential dangers and risks of tunnels are made known, through targeted information, educational material and training of the correct driving behaviour, the aim is to build confidence, reduce fears about disasters and accidents in tunnels and ensure that in all circumstances everyone does the right thing.
C) Build up a reference index by compiling all tunnel test data on technical and safety specifications of the assessed tunnels and providing common uniform data permitting extensive comparative analysis.
The EuroTAP 2008 results
will be launched on 22 April!
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