Volvo Trucks in co-operation with European Transport Safety Council

At a seminar in Brussels this week, Volvo Trucks has launched a co-operative venture with the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC). Over a period of three years, the partners will conduct a campaign in Europe that goes by the name of ‘Safe & Sober’. The aim of the campaign is to increase know-how about the link between alcohol and traffic accidents and it is directed primarily at politicians, opinion-builders, safety organisations and the transport industry.

Every year, about 40,000 people die in road accidents throughout Europe and one-third of these accidents are directly linked to alcohol. With the ‘Safe & Sober’ campaign, both Volvo Trucks and the ETSC aim to increase knowledge of the links between alcohol and accidents in traffic. The joint operation also contributes to the European Union’s goal of halving the number of traffic fatalities by 2010. The campaign focuses primarily on politicians, opinion-builders, safety organisations and the transport industry.

Over a period of three years, Volvo Trucks and the ETSC will work together to improve local, regional and national guidelines for preventing drink-driving. The parties will also identify and support good examples in the health and transport sectors and carry out training programmes and information activities.

The ‘Safe & Sober’ campaign will also include a number of national events in selected European member countries.

“Increased insight into risks and voluntary use of the alco-lock represent an important first step towards reducing traffic fatalities,” says Lennart Pilskog, manager of Public Affairs at Volvo Trucks.

ETSC is an independent and non-profit-making organisation that bases its work on research and development for bringing about a reduction in the number of traffic fatalities in Europe.