A group of 75 European road safety organisations and institutions have asked the EU to set targets for reducing road deaths and serious injuries for 2011-2020.

New targets should be included in the European Commission’s 4th Road Safety Action Programme, which will be released this spring, according to the organisations.

The group says that although the previous 50% death reduction target between 2001 and 2010 has not been met, it has at least resulted in a 30% cut.

Targets should be based on the forecast and estimated potential for further improvement, and not setting a target for 2020 could diminish the EU’s credibility as a global leader in road safety, say the group.

One of the members, the European Transport Safety Council, has proposed a 40% death reduction rate between 2010 and 2020, and a reduction in serious injuries by at least the same percentage.