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Despite significant progress achieved during the last ten years in the field of casualty reduction at EU level, approximately 80 people still lose their lives on a daily basis on Europe’s roads. Put differently, it is comparable to a town of 27,000 inhabitants disappearing over Europe every year.

The European Transport Safety Council has set the value of a human life at € 1.84 m based on the willingness to pay (WTP) approach1. Relying on this figure, which is endorsed by the ERF for the purposes of this position paper, we arrive at the conclusion that road fatalities cost the EU a staggering € 51 billion in 2012.

Moreover, once the cost of injuries is included, the figure increases dramatically. If one includes the cost of medical treatment and of losing members of the workforce, and the extra financial burden placed on insurance, legal and social support systems, the EU’s road injuries give rise to a combined annual bill of around 2% of GDP, i.e. € 250 billion2. All in all, road accidents cost the EU economy € 300 billion annually.

Cheap and effective solutions currently exist that can make an immediate difference, saving lives and reducing the immense socio-economic burden road traffic accidents place on the economy.

The current position paper outlines how the road infrastructure sector and, in particular, the road markings industry can help make a difference immediately, cheaply and effectively.

Road markings are one of the most cost-effective traffic safety solutions available to policymakers and road authorities. Yet, as a result of the fiscal pressure on state budgets, the quality of the road mar- kings on Europe’s roads has been steadily declining in recent years and in some cases, they have even disappeared altogether.

As Europe’s population is ageing, it is expected by 2020 that approximately 25% of drivers on Europe’s roads will be over 65 years, who as a result of reduced reaction and visual abilities, will need clear and visible guidance on the road.

Moreover, the gradual integration of Lane Departure Warning / Lane Keep Assistance systems into vehicle will mean that in the future, many accidents linked to run-offs and cross-over could be avoided,.

This, however, requires a comprehensive policy for the maintenance of road markings and the establish- ment of a minimum intervention policy which can guarantee that markings do not fall under a specific per- formance in order to be visible to drivers and to the intelligent car. Only this ensures the potential reduction of accidents, thus helping save many lives.

Based on analysis of relevant research, empirical evidence and a review of current regulations in different Member States, the ERF is proposing the establishment of an intervention and maintenance policy that can be summarised as 150x150.

In other words, road markings on Europe’s roads should have a minimum width of 150 mm for all roads and their performance should not be allowed to drop below 150 mcd/lux/m² (R3) in dry weather conditions and 35 mcd/lux/m² (RW2) in wet and rainy conditions.

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