MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ORDER
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE
PRESS RELEASE
Significant reduction in road traffic accidents during 2001 according to the results of the road safety programme ?On the Road 2001-2005?.
A reduction in road traffic accidents by 14.4% compared to the previous year was recorded during 2001, according to the results of the Inter-Ministerial Road Safety Committee for 2001 which were presented yesterday at the Press Conference held by the Minister of Public Order and Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Michalis Chrysohoidis.
More specifically, during 2001 there was an 8.3% reduction in fatal accidents and a 23% reduction in serious accidents. The number of deaths from road traffic accidents reduced by 9.1%, serious accidents by 23% and victims overall by 14.3%. In absolute numbers, during 2001, 192 fewer deaths were recorded, 963 fewer serious accidents and 3,438 fewer minor injuries.
It is worth noting that these results fully reflect the quantified targets for road traffic accidents which had been set as part of the ?On the Road 2001-2005` Strategic Plan to improve road safety in Greece, which was prepared last year by the Inter-Ministerial Council and is currently being implemented. As is well-known, these objectives seek to reduce the number of deaths from road traffic accidents by 20% for the period 2001-2005 and by 40% by 2015 compared to a base year of 2000.
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 2002 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 2001.
In addition to the Minister of Public Order, and Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Chrysohoidis, the Deputy Minister of National Economy, Mr. Christos Pachtas, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Public Administration & Decentralization, Mr. Lambros Papadimas, the Deputy Minister of the Environment, Mr. Ioannis Tsaklidis, the Deputy Minister of Health & Welfare, Mr. Hector Nasiakos, the Deputy Minister of Transport & Communications, Mr. Spyros Vougias and the Deputy Minister of Public Order, Mr. Evangelos Malesios, also addressed the Press Conference referring to specific issues concerning the Ministries they represent, and analysing the activities, measures and programmes implemented by them.
Lastly, all speakers highlighted the complexity of road traffic accidents, the need for a global approach and the problem-free collaboration between competent Ministries in the context of the Inter-Ministerial Committee. At the same time, they once again expressed their commitment to continue their joint efforts and noted the substantive contribution made by the Road Safety Programme `On the Road 2001-2005` which seeks to reduce road traffic accidents and treats the issue of road safety in Greece in a radical, global and long-term manner.
Athens, January 22, 2002
