MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ORDER
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE
PRESS RELEASE
Significant reduction in road traffic accidents in 2002 also according to the results of the ?On the Road 2001-2005? programme.
A reduction in road traffic accidents by 14.9% compared to the previous year was recorded during 2002, according to the results of the Inter-Ministerial Road Safety Committee for 2002 which were presented yesterday at a Press Conference held by the Minister of Public Order and Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Michalis Chrysohoidis.
In addition to the Minister of Public Order, Mr. Michalis Chrysohoidis, the following members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee were also present at the Press Conference: the Deputy Minister of Interior, Public Administration & Decentralization, Mr. Lambros Papadimas, the Deputy Minister of the Environment, Mr. Ioannis Tsaklidis, the Deputy Minister of Health & Welfare, Mr. Hector Nasiokas, the Deputy Minister of Transport & Communications, Mr. Emmanuel Stratakis, the Deputy Minister of Public Order, Mr. Evangelos Malesios and the Prime Minister`s Advisor on matters of the Quality of Life, Mr. Antonios Angelidis. The members of the Committee had the opportunity to refer to specific issues of concern to the Ministries they represent.
According to the results of the programme “On the Road 2001-2005?, during 2002 road traffic accidents and victims resulting from them reduced significantly compared to 2001 and 2000.
More specifically:
Compared to 2001, during 2002 there were:
? Road Accidents
o 258 fewer fatal accidents, a reduction of 15.1%
o 473 fewer serious road accidents, a reduction of 18.8%
o 2,203 fewer minor road accidents, a reduction of 14.3%.
? Victims
o 260 fewer deaths, a reduction of 13.6%
o 668 fewer serious injuries, a reduction of 20.5%
o 3,177 fewer minor injuries, a reduction of 14%
Compared to 2000, during 2002 there were:
? Road Accidents
o 413 fewer fatal accidents, a reduction of 22.1%
o 1,222 fewer serious road accidents, a reduction of 37.5%
o 4,581 fewer minor road accidents, a reduction of 25.7%.
? Victims
o 452 fewer deaths, a reduction of 21.5%
o 1,630 fewer serious injuries, a reduction of 38.7%
o 6,585 fewer minor injuries, a reduction of 25.2%
It is worth noting that these results exceeded the targets for road accidents set for 2002 based on the ?On the Road 2001-2005` strategic plan.
As Mr. Chrysohoidis mentioned, this success is due, in addition to the policing plan, to the problem-free and coordinated collaboration between the Ministries and agencies involved in the context of `On the Road 2001-2005?. At the same time, he stressed that the measures taken by the Committee during 2003 will be along the same lines with the aim of reducing deaths further and the total number of victims of road traffic accidents by another 5% compared to 2002. He also pointed that the main priority of this entire effort is contact with citizens who need to become aware of the problem and to actively participate in addressing it.
Following this, the other speakers referred to the individual actions implemented as part of the programme in their sphere of responsibility. Moreover, they also stressed their decision to continue, and to step up, joint efforts to reduce road traffic accidents and radically confront the issues of road safety in Greece.
Athens, January 15, 2003
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