FIA Foundation to head eSafetyAware! user awareness platform

Date: 03 November 2006

ERTICO Partner set to lead Europe-wide information campaign kicking off in 2007.

ERTICO Partner FIA Foundation will head up a major new public-private drive for improving awareness of intelligent vehicle systems and their road safety benefits, called eSafetyAware! This communication platform brings together automotive suppliers, automotive clubs, road safety authorities, road operators, insurance industry and service providers. The European Commission is participating in the platform as an observer.

The announcement of eSafetyAware! was made at a 28 September high-level meeting of the European Commission's i2010 initiative in Helsinki. “Intelligent vehicle systems can make a major contribution in solving our most pertinent transport problem, namely road safety, where Europe still has more than 41,000 deaths per year,” noted Mr Rosario Alessi, FIA Foundation Chairman. “It is our job to get these systems to the users as quickly as possible. This is why FIA Foundation has taken the lead in the new platform for promoting user awareness. We will work together with partners that share our vision and launch campaigns next year. These systems save lives, but you need to know they exist to ask for them."

"We have for a long time emphasised the importance of user awareness in the take-up of the new car safety technologies," said Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission, responsible for Information Society and Media. "Now we have concrete evidence that users' knowledge of new technologies needs improving. This is why I welcome the launch of this new platform for promoting user awareness."

Electronic Stability Control in the spotlight
eSafetyAware! will kick off in 2007 with the launch of a pan-European information campaign on Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This technology has proved highly effective in preventing skidding, with estimates showing that it could reduce the risk of accidents by as much as 20%. Further campaigns will be launched at a later stage, with each campaign focusing on one high-priority eSafety technology with a proven impact on road safety.

eSafetyAware! already held its first plenary meeting 12 October during the ITS World Congress in London. The meeting was a great success, with considerable progress made in planning the platform’s awareness activities and the announcement of three new members: the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), WirelessCar and RoadSafe. The platform now encompasses 30 members.

For more information, please contact communicationplatform@esafetysupport.org