Number of road accident victims increasing
In the Netherlands, a lot of attention is paid to increasing road safety. Nevertheless, since 2014, the number of traffic victims has increased again. A (serious) traffic accident has very far-reaching consequences, not only for the victim but also for the immediate environment and society. Figures on road safety can be found in the Traffic Risk Monitor 2017.

Promoting road safety, preventing damage and increasing road safety awareness are therefore spearheads of insurers. The Covenant plays an important role in this; where individual insurers focus on assisting traffic victims - financially and otherwise - the Association is primarily a driver and connector in initiatives to increase road safety.

Initiatives of the Covenant
The efforts of the Association are aimed on the one hand at vulnerable road users and on the other hand at a better registration of traffic accidents. To this end, the Association concludes so-called Safety Deals with other parties that want to contribute to increasing road safety. Since prevention is better than cure, we put problems on the agenda, bundle knowledge and experience and set out actions together. Currently, there are three Safety Deals:

• Young drivers
  Young drivers are five times more likely to be involved in a traffic accident than experienced drivers. The Safety Deal stems from the Driving Skills Training Trials, with which young people learn to recognize dangers in traffic and to react correctly in emergency situations, for example in case of skidding or emergency braking. Research shows that participants cause more than a quarter less wa damage.
  Parties involved: Provincial road safety bodies, Univé, ZLM insurances and the Dutch Association of Insurers
  
  
• Older drivers
  Older motorists are also vulnerable in traffic; they are more likely to be involved in an accident than other road users. Also, the physical consequences are often more serious. The Association supports the Refresher Course of Veilig Verkeer Nederland, which consists of an online traffic test, courses in the neighborhood and a practical test in your own car.
  Parties involved: VVN, ANBO, ZLM verzekeringen, a.s.r. Allianz, AllSecur and the Dutch Association of Insurers
  
  
• Smart Traffic Accident Reporting (STAR)
  Reliable accident figures are of great importance for the development of policy in the field of road safety. Together with other parties, the Association is committed to reducing under-registration of traffic accidents, in particular by encouraging damage reports via MobielschadeMelden. In this way, the causes of traffic accidents can be identified, it becomes clear which locations are unsafe and the view of vulnerable road users improves.
  STAR is an initiative of the National Police, traffic engineering ICT agency VIA and the Dutch Association of Insurers.

The Safety Deals offer insurers the opportunity to contribute to more safety on the road with their knowledge of risk and prevention. Does your insurance company – affiliated with the Association – want to support one of the Safety Deals? Please contact us via info@verzekeraars.nl!