A European Road Safety Charter presentation and signing event was held on July 8, 2009 in London, in conjunction with the UK Department for Transport. 20 British entities including companies, associations and non-governmental organisations signed new commitments to help save lives on the UK’s roads, while three existing signatories renewed their commitments.
 
Ms Sarah Lambert, Head of Representation of the European Commission in UK opened the UK National Charter Tour by welcoming 90 participants. Ms Lambert active involvement throughout the event showed a strong interest of the European Road Safety Charter initiative by supporting and encouraging the signatories.
 
Mr Paul Clark MP, the UK’s Minister for Road Safety, gave a speech on Road Safety Policies in the UK, in which he echoed the British government’s support for the Charter. He also revealed the good news that the UK has already achieved its 2010 target on reducing deaths and serious injuries.
In 2008, deaths on the UK’s roads fell by 14% to 2,538, marking the largest percentage in a single year since the Second World War, while serious injuries fell by 6%.
“These latest statistics show we are continuing to make excellent progress towards our stated long-term goal of making Britain’s roads the safest in the world. They also mean that we have achieved our 2010 target on reducing deaths and serious injuries two years early.” Mr Clark said.
Despite these extremely encouraging results, Mr Clark urged the need to avoid complacency and emphasized the importance of continuing the “teamwork and partnership that is at the heart of our strategy – and the heart of the European Road Safety Charter.”
The UK and the Charter’s common aims include educating young people, targeting employers and employees who drive for work, improving the enforcement of driving laws and engineering of vehicles and roads. “...Our next ten-year road safety strategy for the UK, which begins in 2010, reflects many of the principles laid out in the Charter.” he said.
 
Citing the technology and strategies of other countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands as inspiration for the UK’s successes in road safety, Mr Clark reiterated the importance of the European Charter in uniting the UK with the continent in its aim to reduce road fatalities: “As road safety professionals, our responsibilities and concerns do not stop at national boundaries… I look forward to working with you to support the UK’s role within the European Road Safety Charter.” Mr Clark concluded.
 
Ms Isabelle Kardacz, Head of the Road Safety Unit of the European Commission, spoke about the direction of road safety in Europe, and Mrs Aude Delesalle, European Road Safety Charter Coordinator, presented the Charter initiative, the latest updates in number of signatories and the future developments.
 
This was followed by the signing ceremony in which 20 British entities became part of the large Charter family: 3M, A.D.T.C. Driver Development, Arval Group Ltd, Bethell Group Plc, British Gas, British Red Cross, British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), Drive Alive, Driving Instructors Democratic Union (DIDU), Driving Research Group, Cranfield University, Greater London Hire Limited, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, London Accident Prevention Council, M&G Vehicle Hire ltd, Nestlé UK, Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ORSA), Road Safety Council of Northern Ireland, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, UCL University College London, Centre for Transport Studies and Wolseley signed their unique commitments to actively contribute to reducing the number of accidents on their nation and continent’s roads. Also three renewed their existing Charter commitments for a further three years: Caravan Club, Greater London Authority and Institute of Advanced Motorists.
The active road safety network within the UK was very evident at the event proving a willingness to form real alliances and opportunities to communicate road safety practices together. The participants used the event to reaffirm their common goals as an active road safety network.