DRIVING WITHOUT MISFORTUNES IN 2005

(Article by Eugenia Domenech, president of P(A)T)
Having assumed the presidency of P(A)T in 2004, I am pleased to address you all with a desire for good family holidays and a prosperous and happy new year.

The activities of P(A)T are increasing in parallel with the increased awareness towards road safety in Spain. This should encourage us all, but also makes it necessary to count with your help, with your collaboration, new ideas and personal as well as economic support.

In our Association we have always have in our mind the families who suffer from severe injuries or the loss of a loved one in a traffic accident. One of our challenges in the year 2005 is to achieve a greater respect and recognition of the rights of victims and people affected by traffic accidents. P (A) T will continue in this struggle to help reduce the number of people killed and injured on public roads. I ask for your complicity, so that all together, we can achieve that 2005 will be a year of driving without misfortune.

Receive our best wishes and that the next year of 2005 will fill you with joy and happiness.

NEW YEAR AND NEW ATTITUDES

(Article by O. Thorson, Vice President of P (A) T)
In recent months we are noticing significant changes in attitudes towards improving road safety in Spain. It seems that society is finally accepting that we can not continue sticking our heads in the sand - like an ostrich - with respect to the thousands of deaths and injuries on the road. There are notable changes from the highest echelons of the nation to the common driver. All are expressing a desire to keep alive their friends and family. The President of the Government has indicated that Road Safety is a priority concern to be addressed. The Interior Minister has submitted significant changes in the Road Safety Act, related to the "Points Scheme for Driving Licences", to the Congress of Deputies (Lower House). The Regional Interior Minister in Catalunya clearly advocates zero tolerance of alcohol on the highways. The road safety plans will have to achieve specific targets.

But we still have a lot of work to do in prevention, including many legal changes and changes in attitudes of the judiciary, so that society can be more secure against violent assault on highways and streets.

We ask for additional effort from Government Administration and Entities, so that the year 2005 will be able to show that the efforts we are making towards the reduction of risk on the roads can continue giving positive results.

MESSAGE FROM HIS MAJESTY THE KING

(Article by Eugenia Domenech, President of P(A)T)
His Majesty, in his Christmas message, highlighted this year a request that we dedicate our best efforts to reduce traffic accidents, which cause so many deaths and injuries. P(A)T had asked His Majesty to convey his concern over this issue and welcomes that the country's highest institution expresses its desire to act in preventing traffic accidents.

For us it is a significant gesture which we appreciate and we are convinced that the manifestation of this concern by the Head of State, for the grief and suffering of many citizens, and recognition of the work that many people are doing in this field, will encourage us to do work even harder in support of road safety in 2005.

VISIT TO THE CONGRESS OF DEPUTIES (LOWER HOUSE)

(Article written by the Board and Delegations of P(A)T and AP(A)T)
On the 1st of December a group of representatives of P(A)T visited the Highway Safety Committee at the Congress of Deputies - being received by its chairman, the Deputy Mr. Jordi Jané. The meeting stressed the need for substantial work within the Commission and in particular the need for major changes in the Penal Code, adaptation to the new law which includes the Points Driving Licence and a better definition in the classification of different crimes. It was also mentioned that there is a need for greater recognition of the rights of victims of traffic accidents.

A petition was presented in the Registry of the Congress of Deputies (Lower House), which calls for a revision of the Penal Code, together with many signatures collected in different parts of Spain in support of the request. Among other things, it requested: the definition of the concept of "gross negligence" in traffic; the application of the offense of "reckless homicide" in cases of deaths in road accidents; the determination of a criminal alcohol level; the introduction of the criminal offense of "driving without a licence" and the crime of "escape"; precautionary measures such as the withdrawal of the driving license, mandatory awareness education in order to recover a driving license withdrawn by criminal conviction, and the use of the money obtained from sanctions to awareness programs and care for victims of traffic accidents.

Participants in the meeting were the National Board members and Regional Offices of P(A)T-AP(A)T for the regions of Andalusia, Catalonia, Madrid and Valencia.

Making the most of the stay in Madrid, the representatives of P(A)T had the opportunity to hold meetings with representatives of the two major political parties, PP and PSOE, in order to pass on their concerns and requests on behalf of the Association.

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