Carmakers to go public on safety

Carmakers will be among those expected to sign a new European Road Safety Charter of commitment aimed at saving 20,000 lives a year on the EU's roads.

The charter, which forms part of the European Road Safety Action Programme launched this week, will involve public commitments by carmakers to put road safety performance and its measurement at the centre of the decision-making process.

The programme says it aims to harmonise passive safety measures and will look to support the development of technology which could have an impact on safety – citing on-board navigation and guidance systems, and driver communication technologies to alert them of accidents.

The programme also points to the harmonisation of road safety penalties.