Volvo Trucks has launched a cooperative venture with the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) to conduct a three-year campaign to reduce alcohol-related traffic accidents, according to information from Volvo Trucks North America, Greensboro NC.
The European campaign will be directed primarily at politicians, opinion-builders, safety organizations, and the transportation industry.
ETSC is a Brussels-based independent non-profit organization founded in 1993 that dedicated to reducing the number and severity of transportation accidents in Europe. About 40,000 people are killed each year in Europe and one-third of those accidents are directly linked to alcohol, Volvo said. The campaign also is designed to contribute to the goal by the European Unions to halve the number of traffic fatalities by 2010.
Over a period of three years, Volvo Trucks and the ETSC will work together to improve local, regional and national guidelines for preventing drink-driving, identify and support good examples in the health and transport sectors, and carry out training programmes and information activities. The Safe and Sober campaign will include a number of national events in selected European member countries, Volvo said.