Traffic Safety Basic Facts 2013 - Main Figures Traffic Safety Basic Facts 2015 RoadUrban Areas Safety Country Overview Estonia Road Safety Country Overview – Estonia Structure and Culture Basic data Table 1: Basic data of Estonia in relation to the EU average Basic data of Estonia EU average* - Population: 1,3 million inhabitants (2013)[2] 18,1 million (2013) - Area: 45.227 km2 (2013)[2] 156.478 km2 (2013) (6,2%) (2015)[4] 3% water (2015) - Climate and weather conditions (capital city; (2015) 2015)[3]: - Average winter temperature (Nov. to April): 8,5°C 2,7°C - Average summer temperature (May to Oct.): 21,4°C 18,3 °C - Annual precipitation level: 618 mm 651 mm - Exposure: 8,4 billion vehicle km (2010)[5] 153,7 billion vehicle km (2012)1 - 0,58 vehicles per person (2013)[2] 0,65 (2013) Sources: [1] IRTAD; [2] EUROSTAT; [3] national sources; [4] CIA; [5] DG MOVE Estonia has a very low Country characteristics population density. Table 2: Characteristics of Estonia in comparison to the EU average Characteristics of Estonia EU average* - Population density: 29 inhabitants/km2 115 inhabitants/km2 (2013)[2] (2013) - Population composition (2013)[2]: 15,8% children (0-14 years) 15,6% children 65,8 % adults (15-64 years) 65,9% adults 18,4% elderly (65 years and over) 18,5% elderly (2013) - Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita: €26.763 (2013) €14.241 (2013)[2] - 67,5% of population lives inside urban area 73% (2015) (2015)[4] - Special characteristics [4]: marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south Sources: [1] IRTAD; [2] EUROSTAT; [3] national sources; [4] CIA *The European average is calculated based on the latest data available for the 28 EU countries 1 Based on 18 EU countries (excl. BG, ES, HR, IT, CY, LT, LU, HU, MT); data of EE, LV, PL, RO (2010); data of SK (2000); data of EL (1998) - 2 - Road Safety Country Overview – Estonia Structure of road safety management In Estonia you have two different political levels with responsibilities concerning road safety: the Estonian Road Agency for national roads and local governments for local roads. The following key actors are responsible for Road Safety (RS) policy The Estonian Road Agency is making: the main body dealing with Road Safety issues. Table 3: Key actors per function in Estonia Key functions Key actors 1. - Ministry of Economic Affairs and - Formulation of national Communications RS strategy - The Governments: responsible for setting - Setting targets targets - Development of the RS - Estonian Road Agency (ERA): responsible for the programme formulation and the development of the national RS strategies 2. Monitoring of the RS development in the - ERA country 3. Improvements in road - ERA: national roads infrastructure - Local governments: local roads 4. Vehicle improvement - Motor Vehicle Registration Centre of ERA: driver licensing and motor vehicles registration activities 5. Improvement in road - Estonian Road Museum user education - Ministry of Education and Research. 6. Publicity campaigns - Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks: national campaigns. - Ministry of Public Order. - Ministry of Transport Automobile Association. - Regional and local authorities: regional and local campaigns. 7. Enforcement of road - Police traffic laws - Border Guard Board 8. Other relevant actors - The Ministry of Health - Research: e.g. Tallinn Technical University, the University of Tartu, the University of Tallinn, Tallinn University of Applied Sciences - The Ministry of Justice Sources: national sources - 3 - Road Safety Country Overview – Estonia Attitudes towards risk taking - Estonian drivers admit to follow too close and to make/answer calls with handheld phones more often than the SARTRE average. They report about less risky behaviour than the average when it comes to speeding in a residential area. - There is higher support among Estonian drivers for stricter legislation regarding speeding than among drivers in other countries. Table 4: Road safety attitudes and behaviour of drivers SARTRE Estonia Estonian drivers admit to average make/answer calls with % of drivers that show Self-reported driving behaviour handheld phones more often behaviour at least often than the SARTRE average. Too close following 16% 13% Make/answer a call with handheld phone 25% 13% Likelihood to drive at 20km/h over the speed 4% 11% limit in residential area in the next month % of drivers that support Supporting stricter legislation stricter legislation Higher penalties for speeding offences 56% 52% Higher penalties for drink-driving offences 93% 84% Lower BAC levels 69% 60% % of drivers that believe Perceived probability of being checked that probability is high Speeding 17% 16% Alcohol use 8% 9% Source: SARTRE, 2010 Legend (comparison of country attitude in relation to average attitude of other SARTRE countries): 2-9% better 10-19% better ≥ 20% better 2-9% worse 10-19% worse ≥ 20% worse - 4 - Road Safety Country Overview – Estonia Programmes and measures National strategic plans and targets - The Estonian National Traffic Safety Program (2003-2015) is Estonia has set a 2020 target currently active. The latest application plan with road safety decreasing fatalities by 62% measures covers the period 2012-2015. comparing to 2013-2015 - Targets (referred to 2013-2015 average): average. Table 5: Road safety targets for Estonia Year Fatalities Serious injuries 2015 Max. 100 -62% -39% 2020 Max.75 Max. 1.500 Priority topics: - Traffic safety management system - Road safety supporting measures - Education and training - Traffic safety campaigns - Traffic supervision (reduction of intoxicated driving, reduction of speeding, increased use of passive safety measures) - Post-crash activity - Infrastructure safety Road infrastructure Table 6: Description of the road categories and their characteristics in Estonia Road type General speed limits (km/h) Urban roads 50 Rural roads 90 Source: EC DG-Move, 2015 Special rules for: - Novice drivers in passenger cars: 90km/h (100km/h or 110km/h rural roads). Guidelines and strategic plans for infrastructure are available in Estonia. Table 7: Obligatory parts of infrastructure management in Estonia and other EU countries Obligatory parts in Estonia EU countries with obligation Estonia has no motorways and Safety impact assessment: yes for TEN-T improves roads by means of network 32% high risk site treatment; road Road safety audits: yes for TEN-T network 81% safety audits and inspections Road safety inspections: yes for TEN-T are recommended for all roads. network 89% High risk site treatment: yes 74% Sources: DG-TREN, 2010; national sources - 5 - Road Safety Country Overview – Estonia Recent activities of road infrastructure improvement have been addressing: - Reconstruction of dangerous crossings, intersections and road sections - Cycle and pedestrian paths’ construction - Lightning outside built-up area - Roundabouts’ construction - Rumble strips - Safety barriers, etc. Traffic laws and regulations Table 8: Description of the regulations in Estonia in relation to the most common regulations in other EU countries Most common in EU Regulations in Estonia (% of countries) Allowed BAC2 level: 0,2‰ 0,5‰ (54%) - Novice drivers: 0,2‰ 0,2‰ (43%) - Professional drivers: 0,2‰ 0,2‰ (32%) and 0,0‰ (36%) Phoning: - Hand held: not allowed Not allowed (all countries) - Hands free: allowed Allowed (all countries) The BAC level of 0,2‰ in Use of restraint systems: - Driver: obligatory Obligatory (all countries) Estonia is lower than the - Front passenger: obligatory Obligatory (all countries) common limit of 0,5‰ in EU. - Rear passengers: obligatory Obligatory (all countries) - Children: obligatory Obligatory (all countries) Helmet wearing: - Motor riders: Obligatory Obligatory (all countries) - Moped riders: Obligatory Obligatory (all countries) - Cyclists: not obligatory Not obligatory (39%) - Daytime running lights are mandatory. Source: EC DG-Move, 2015 Enforcement Table 9: Effectiveness of enforcement effort in Estonia according to an international respondent consensus (scale = 0-10) Score for Most common in EU Issue Estonia (% of countries) Effectiveness of seat-belt and Speed legislation enforcement 7 7 (43%) child restraint law enforcement Seat-belt law enforcement 9 7 (25%) and 8 (25%) in Estonia is better than the Child restraint law enforcement 9 8 (39%) most common in EU. Helmet legislation enforcement 9 9 (50%) Drink-driving law enforcement 8 8 (43%) Source: WHO, 2015 2 Blood Alcohol Concentration - 6 - Road Safety Country Overview – Estonia Road user education and training Table 10: Road user education and training in Estonia compared to the situation in other EU countries Most common in EU Education and training in Estonia (% of countries) General education programmes: - Primary school: compulsory Compulsory (71%) - Secondary school: compulsory Compulsory (43%) - Other groups: voluntary (cyclists, teenagers, - children, elderly). Driving licences thresholds: Road safety education is - Passenger car: 18 years; 18 years (79%) - Motorised two wheeler: 14 years (L1e, L2e, 18 years (low categories) and compulsory in Estonia. L6e), 16 years (11kW), 18 years (25kW), 20 higher ages (32%) years (>25kW) - Buses and coaches: 21years 21 years (86%) - Lorries and trucks: 21 years 21 years (7%)[2,3] Sources: [1] ROSE25, 2005; [2] ETSC; 2011; [3] national sources Public Campaigns Table 11: Public campaigns in Estonia compared to the situation in other EU countries Most common issues in EU Campaigns in Estonia (% of countries) Organisation: - Traffic Education