Special European Road Safety Charter Contest 2007

(Noticiascadadía).- The winners of the Road Safety Charter Contest 2007 "Become A European Road Safety Charter Ambassador" were chosen at the end of December 2007. Following the closure of the call for submissions on 15 October 2007, the jury appointed by the European Commission administration selected the 20 most interesting proposals.

The winners come from 14 European Union Member States. Their initiatives are distinguished by their diversity, originality and specific nature. They provide simple, concrete answers to the challenge of road safety; at the same time, these answers are entertaining, close to the public and humanitarian.

Lieve Snoeckx, the Belgian winner, invited to take part in the contest by European Road Safety Charter signatory Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde (Flemish Foundation for Trafficknowledge), launched a contest at his school. Children going to school on foot or by bicycle have to wear fluorescent vests. Those travelling by car have to wear seatbelts. The teachers ensure the respect of these measures and their classes accumulate points in order to win a cup.

Michel Peres, the French winner, invited to take part in the contest by signatory Eurovia, had the idea of displaying humorous drawings by young people and presenting scenes relating to road risk on walls near a school in the Mondelange en Moselle district. "They are an excellent and original educational tool and can easily be put into widespread use, even on professional websites", he stated.

María de la Paz Ortega García, a Spanish winner invited by QDQ, Madrid, set up a photo safari entitled "In search of the lost traffic light", for the Plan de Actuación Urbanística (PAU) [urban action plan] association in Vallecas (Madrid). "It involves taking photos of crossroads at which traffic lights should be installed. The photographs accumulated by all of the neighbours have been sent to the police headquarters and the district council, together with a report", explained María de la Paz Ortega García.

The winners are awarded a weekend for two to one of the following cities of their choice: Barcelona, Berlin, Bologna, Brussels, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London, Prague, Vienna and Warsaw