The European Commission has come up with a set of new proposals to come into force in four years' time aimed at making EU roads safer and more environmentally friendly.

According to the new proposals, new cars sold in the EU will, as from 2012, be required to have Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems and tyre-pressure monitors.

The proposals envisage that lorries and other heavy vehicles such as buses will be fitted with advanced emergency braking systems and with systems that would send out warnings if a vehicle leaves its lane. These would come into effect in 2013. These measures, which are still to be endorsed by the European Parliament and member states, could save as many as 5,000 lives a year.

The proposals will, however, mean additional costs to consumers ranging between €100 and €300 per car, depending on the type of vehicle.

Tyres are also on the list of proposals. The EU executive is proposing that, as from 2012, all vehicles travelling on EU roads will start using "low rolling resistance" tyres that reduce noise and cut fuel costs for the average European motorist by around €80 per year.

This reduction in the fuel bill at current prices is based on an average of 20,000 kilometres a year and six litres fuel per 100 kilometres. The Commission estimates that these tyres, which are designed to reduce friction with the road surface, will lower CO2 emissions by seven grammes per kilometre.

The Commission is also proposing to streamline existing legislation on vehicles by filing 150 existing rules into one rule book.

Last year the Commission proposed the obligatory fitting of passenger cars with Brake Assist Systems (BAS) to protect pedestrians as from next year.

The use of BAS can considerably reduce the stopping distance of a vehicle in an emergency situation with the effect that collisions could be avoided altogether or would occur at a far lower speed.