VOICE Speed Awards

The Speed Awards identify and highlight two initiatives that could have positive and negative repercussions respectively on driving behaviour and the safety of all road users, including the most vulnerable amongst them. The positive Award goes to the car lease company LeasePlan Nederland N.V. for offering in-car assistance to keep safe speeds and distances as part of the Belonitor project. The negative Award has been given to the car rental company Sixt in Germany for glamorising speed through one of its advertising posters.

The aim of the Awards is to draw attention to the important role that can be played by the industry - including car lease and rental companies - in influencing road user behaviour. In this case, LeasePlan Nederland and Sixt find themselves on opposite ends of the road safety spectrum. On the one hand, LeasePlan has played an active part in promoting safe driving. The fundamental principle of the Belonitor project has been to encourage drivers not to speed or tailgate by monitoring and rewarding those who drive responsibly. On the other hand, Sixt has chosen to emphasise speeding in one of its advertising posters displaying the photo of a large car and a caption in German that could be roughly translated as: "There are many fast cars. Try overtaking a few".

The Awards take the form of original cartoons drawn by artist Dagmara Pater.

Positive award

Negative award