LONDON'S Green Euro-MP Jean Lambert will join protestors in France, Spain and the UK in observing a one-minute silence in memory of the 50,000 people killed and 3.5 million injured on Europe's roads each year.
The UK silence will take place at College Green at 10am tomorrow (May 16, 2003) to coincide with events co-ordinated by France's 'League Against Road Violence'.
Organisers of the College Green demonstration, RoadPeace, will also display 300 pairs of shoes to mark the 300 annual violent road deaths in London, as many as die each month across the entire UK.
Mrs Lambert said: "If any other activity caused 300 deaths a year in London alone there would be huge public anger, and the Government would be forced to take action to stem the tide of wasted lives.
"Road violence is nothing short
of a public health crisis, whose victims far outnumber those of SARS or even terrorist
activity in the UK. The Government must take responsibility for solving this crisis,
for the sake
of those who lose their lives on the roads and the shattered
families and communities they leave behind."
Hundreds of demonstrators are expected to attend the College Green memorial, and Mrs Lambert will be joined by Jenny Jones, the Mayor of London's Road Safety Ambassador and Green Party member of the London Assembly, as well as MPs, other MEPs and representatives of charities and campaign groups. The French and Spanish Ambassadors have also been invited.
Mrs Lambert will make a renewed call for the Government, EU and motorists to take immediate action to reduce fatalities.
She said: "Immediate steps can be taken that will save lives: improving driver accountability, insisting manufacturers install safety features such as speed limiters and 'black boxes', and reducing speed limits in residential and commercial areas."
"Motorists don't need to wait for the Government to act though. If individuals removed 'bull bars' from their vehicles, for example, that would be a start.
"When did a motorist ever knock over a bull outside a London school?"
ENDS
For more information please contact Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280 or 0776 997 0691 press@greenmeps.org.uk