SAFETY is at the heart of Transport Minister Gavin Strang's European presidency agenda as he outlined plans for an annual report on transport safety across the European Union aimed at reducing transport-related deaths and injuries. Around 45,000 people are killed annually on European roads.

Strang said: 'I want to set in motion a process which will eventually result in effective action to save lives.' Further safety measures which the UK intends to progress include a directive on roadside checks on commercial vehicles.