EFFECTIVE AND CHEAPER MEASURES

(Article by the Board of P(A)T)
Too often we think that any measure to reduce casualties in traffic is costly and difficult to implement. In recent weeks we have demonstrated with a simple "Act" that some traffic accidents are preventable using messages to create awareness and most importantly, the cost of these measures is ridiculously small compared to their beneficial effects.

Over recent weekends a new strategy has been launched by the DGT, using advertising panels on the highways, indicating that speed can kill, and showing the number of people who died last year on the same weekend. Due to the rapid assimilation of cause and effect, the result has been 50% fewer deaths, as well as the reduction in serious and slight injuries. It has also been effective for the message that P(A)T-AP(A)T has spent years preaching, that measures should be educative and create awareness, but experience tells us that just at weekends is not enough. THis information should be extended to those who travel during the working week.

We applaud this measure, for its effectiveness, its low cost and and its speed deployment. We just hope that this measure is applied throughout the year, and that the messages are updated. This action should be accompanied by other inter-related measures, in order to achieve the objectives of the "European Charter for Road Safety", that is, 50% fewer deaths and serious injuries in 2010.

Course organized by the Complutense University of Madrid: "Strategies for Investigation of Automobile Accidents"

(Note from Jesus Roges, Project Leader of P(A)T-AP(A)T)
During the past 12th - 16th of July, the course "Strategies for Research in Security and motor vehicle accidents", was held in San Lorenzo del Escorial, organized by the Universidad Complutense of Madrid and sponsored by FITSA and MAPFRE Road Safety.

Members of P(A)T-AP(A)T attended the course, which was very complete, and what became evident, was the lack of research in comparison with the countries of northern Europe.

Much more research is needed. There are few entities dedicated investigation, with limited resources, and from P(A)T-AP(A)T we see that more collaboration is needed between them and the government.

It also appeared that the "Black Box", in a not too distant future will be the breakthrough for full data collection, and P(A)T-AP(A)T, would like to add to this concept: the "Black Box" will be a faithful witness to help the innocent Victims to positively resolve the problems of data collection. The cost of this deployment in the vehicles would be almost symbolic, compared to the information we would obtain. Ah! good drivers are looking forward to its deployment.

In the theme of "traffic casualties as a problem of Public Health", the need was identified for "Speed Limiter Devices" to minimize damage and injuries in case of collision, and therefore achieve the objective in the year 2010 for the "European Charter on Road Safety".

The web-site of the DGT (National Traffic Directorate)

(Nota de la Junta de P(A)T)
In the last issue of the P(A)T newsletter, we said that the web-site of the DGT, should be a beacon for a Mobility which is Accessible, Safe and Sustainable. It appears now that our suggestions did not fall on deaf ears and we have had a change real. We suggest that you visit the web site and make your own opinion. We would also like to see the creation of links/connections with entities such as P(A)T, the "Permanent Bureau of Traffic Safety" and the Road Safety Foundations, to multiply the effect (Internet makes this easier) of this much-needed change in Attitudes, and in Skills www.dgt.es.

(Article written by the Board of P (A) T)
On July 21st in Barcelona, an inaugural presentation of the Association APRAT(Professional Association for Traffic Accident Rescue), was made in Society. It is composed mainly of firemen who are specialized in the extraction and rescue of traffic accident victims. The representation of P(A)T-AP(A)T, the "Permanent Bureau of Road Safety" and the "Catalan Foundation of Road Safety", was numerous, in their support for this altruistic initiative. The similarity to our acronym opens a partnership not only phonetic, but also we hope soon to strengthen our ties for information exchange, joint initiatives and agreements in favour of Road Safety. P(A)T-AP(A)T P(A)T-AP(A)T would like to congratulation you for your work in the present and in the future, and we ask friends of Road Safety to visit their web-site: www.aprat.es

P(A)T asks for your help and participation

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