The project is being launched along with An Garda Síochána – Ireland’s national police service – at a road policing conference taking place next week in Dublin. The event will see the Make the Pledge page of the TISPOL website (www.tispol.org/edward) enabled. TISPOL president Aidan Reid and other Council members will also make the pledge.

The first European Day Without a Road Death (Project EDWARD) has been set for Wednesday 21 September 2016. Participation is expected from all 30 TISPOL member countries.

TISPOL president Aidan Reid said: “We believe Project EDWARD can make a big impact in re-energising casualty reduction across Europe. EDWARD will encourage all road users to reflect on their behaviour and attitude. After all, driver behaviour remains the most important barrier to progress as we approach 2020 and its reduction targets.

“TISPOL’s target is that no one should die on the roads of Europe on Wednesday 21 September. And as we pause to reflect on how we use the roads, it is my belief that Project EDWARD can make a significant contribution towards further sizeable and sustained reductions in road death and serious injury.

“So whether you represent a national government, a private organisation, a public agency, police service, a charity, a school, college or university, or whether you simply care as an individual, please join me and make the pledge to support Project EDWARD, and do your bit to reduce risk and improve safety for the people who use our roads.”