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The world is moving one step closer to cutting the annual global road death toll of 1.2 million by recognising the crucial role of road design, according to John Dawson, chairman of the UK’s Campaign for Safe Road Design.
A joint initiative from the Transport Research Centre of the influential OECD and the International Transport Forum will move the importance of road design further up the international agenda by embracing the “Safe System” approach to transport design. This new approach is being successfully used particularly in the Netherlands, Sweden and some Australian states. It ensures that, in the event of a crash, impact energies remain below the threshold likely to produce either death or serious injury.
Commenting on the forthcoming launch of "Towards zero : ambitious road safety targets and the safe system approach” (17 Oct), John Dawson said : “While this approach still sees the road user as the weakest link in the transport chain – unpredictable and capable of error – it extends responsibility for road safety beyond the road user. It creates a holistic attitude where all those who are responsible for safety of the road transport system – users, vehicle manufacturers and road authorities – accept and act on their responsibility to make roads safe.”
“It is along the lines set out in Towards Zero that the Campaign for Safe Road Design will continue to push for change and road death reduction in the UK,” said Dawson
The Campaign for Safe Road Design, a consortium of the UK’s leading road user, road safety and road design bodies, was launched in July this year. It claims that Britain can cut its toll of road deaths and serious injuries by a third simply by investing in better road design, saving 30 lives or serious injuries a day and Britain’s economy £6bn a year.
According to the Campaign, a third of Britain’s serious injuries or fatalities on the roads are preventable over the next 10 years with just a modest investment – primarily in signs, lines, kerbing and barriers.
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Road Safety Foundation Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 02069723. Registered office: 60 Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DS, UK
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