In order to achieve that overall goal, it was quickly realised that the countries boasting the most advanced records in Europe all shared a common policy direction. The states in question – Sweden, Holland and the United Kingdom – had all based their policies on the pursuit of a strategic approach. The first page of the strategy stated in succinct terms the underlying context within which the overall strategic approach was to be set. It stated, "The Government cannot acquiesce in this 'business as usual' scenario." A failure to pursue the new approach would have resulted in an estimated 550 road deaths in 2002. Against that background, the Government set demanding primary targets to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads by a factor of 20%.