The green card system and its role in ensuring the road traffic accident victims

Abstract

The number of fatalities on the roads of the EU has fallen by 35% between 2001 and 2009, but the target of halving road victims 50% by the end of 2010 has not been met. Lithuania have transposed into national legislation EU directives relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles since 2004. Nevertheless, the rules relating to compensation are not harmonized still, and diversity of legislation in the Member States can cause a risk of legal insecurity for EU citizens who become victims of an accidents in a Member State other than their own. The aim of the article is to review the compensation levels of victims in cross-border road traffic accidents in EU countries and to compare the position of Lithuania with other EU countries, to discuss proposals given by experts from EU countries.