Safety issues
Children/Novice drivers/Older drivers
Children
Children are the most vulnerable traffic participants. While cars are becoming safer for children as car passengers, the highest risk of fatality for children is still as car passenger, followed as pedestrians and then as cyclists.
Road safety measures for children need special attention as children are not just small adults. You can find more about children and road safety in the text on this issue below.
Text on children and road safety (DaCoTA, 2012)
Novice drivers
In every crash and fatality statistic, 16-24 year old drivers are largely over-represented. You can find more about the magnitude and causes of the problem, and effective countermeasures in the text below.
Update of text on novice drivers . (DaCoTA, 2012)
Text on novice drivers (SafetyNet, 2006)
Facts and figures
Furthermore, you can find facts and figures related to novice drivers in the basic fact sheets on Youngsters (aged 15-17), Young people (aged 18-24) and Gender.
Youngsters (aged 15-17) (Basic Fact sheets 2011)
Young people (aged 18-24) (Basic Fact sheets 2011)
Gender (Basic Fact sheets 2011)
Older drivers
Older drivers are frailer, making them more vulnerable than other road users. As a result, older drivers have a relatively high fatality rate. The text on older drivers (below) gives more information about the limitations of the older driver, situations where older drivers are over-represented in crashes, and effective countermeasures.
Update of text on older drivers . (DaCoTA, 2012)
Text on older drivers (SafetyNet, 2006)
Facts and figures
Furthermore, you can find facts and figures related to older drivers in the basic fact sheets on Elderly (aged > 65) and Gender.
Elderly (aged >65) (Basic Fact sheets 2011)
Gender (Basic Fact sheets 2011)
Pedestrians/Cyclists/Powered two-wheelers
Pedestrians and cyclists
Pedestrians and cyclists suffer the most severe consequences in collisions with other road users because they cannot protect themselves against the speed and mass of the other party. Find out more on crash characteristics involving pedestrians and cyclists in the text below. This text also contains information on effective countermeasures.
Updated text on pedestrians and cyclists (Dacota, 2011)
Text on pedestrians and cyclists (SafetyNet, 2006)
Facts and figures
Furthermore, you can find facts and figures related to pedestrians and cyclists in the basic fact sheets on Pedestrians, Cyclists, Children (aged < 15), Youngsters (aged 15-17) and Elderly (aged > 65).
Pedestrians (Basic Fact sheets 2011)
Cyclists (Basic Fact sheets 2011)
Children (aged < 15) (Basic Fact sheets 2011)
Youngsters (aged 15-17) (Basic Fact sheets 2011)
Elderly (aged >65) (Basic Fact sheets 2011)
Powered two-wheelers
Powered two wheelers (PTW) consist of mopeds (55cc and restricted top speed) and motorcycles. Riding a PTW is much more dangerous than other ways of traffic participation. The text below contains more information on contributing factors to crashes and injury, licensing issues and effective countermeasures.
Updated text on powered two-wheelers (DaCoTA 2012)
Text on powered two wheelers (SafetyNet, 2006)
Facts and figures
Furthermore, you can find facts and figures related to PTW in the basic fact sheets on Motorcycles and mopeds, Youngsters (aged 15-17) and Elderly (aged > 65).
Motorcycles and mopeds (BFS 2010)
Youngsters (aged 15-17) (BFS 2010)
Elderly (aged >65) (BFS 2010)
Hazardous behaviour/Post impact care
Alcohol/drugs
About 25% of all road fatalities in Europe are alcohol related whereas about only 1% of all kilometres driven in Europe are driven by drivers with 0.5 g/l alcohol in their blood or more. As the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in the driver increases, the crash rate also rises. Learn more about risks of drink-driving and effective measures in the text below.
Update of text on alcohol (DaCoTA, 2012)
Text on alcohol (SafetyNet, 2006)
Cell phone use while driving
Since in-car telephones first appeared in the mid-1980s, the use of hand-held and, more recently, hands-free devices has rapidly increased. At the same time, a significant body of research indicates the adverse consequences of driver distraction associated with use of a cell phone while driving, whether hand-held or hands-free. You can find out more in the text below.
Text on Car telephone use while driving (DaCoTA, 2012)
Driver distraction
The task of driving requires continuous attention to road and traffic circumstances and vehicle control. A driver may pay insufficient attention to the driving because the driver is occupied with other activities like making a phone call, tuning the radio, listening to the radio, talking with a passenger, or eating while driving, etc.
Text on driver distraction (DaCoTA, 2012 )
More information on distraction by cell phone use while driving can be found here .
Fatigue
Fatigue leads to a deterioration of driving performance, which results in an increased risk of crashes. Find out more about the mechanisms involved in fatigue processes, and preventive strategies and countermeasures in the text below.
Updated text on fatigue (DaCoTA, 2012)
Text on fatigue (SafetyNet, 2006)
Speed and speed management
Speed is at the core of the road safety problem. In fact, speed is involved in all accidents: no speed, no accidents. In the text below, you can find out more about.
Updated text on speeding and speed management (DaCoTA, 2012).
Updated text on speeding (SafetyNet, 2006)
Work-related accidents
Work-related motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the workplace in industrialized countries. Find out more about the risks and background of this problem and effective countermeasures in the text below.
Updated text on work-related road safety (DaCoTA, 2012)
Text on work-related road safety (SafetyNet, 2006)
Post impact care
Post-impact care is a strategy which aims to reduce the severity of injury consequences once a road traffic crash has occurred. Read more about developments en effects of post impact care in the text below.
Update of text on post impact care . (DaCoTA, 2012)
Text on post impact care (SafetyNet, 2006)
E-safety
E-safety is a vehicle-based intelligent safety system which could improve road safety in terms of exposure, crash avoidance, injury reduction and post-crash phases. Find out more about the expected effects of e-safety and initiatives on this issue in the text below.
Updated text on e-safety (DaCoTA 2012)
Text on e-safety (SafetyNet 2006)
Road safety measures
Infrastructure
Every road traffic crash starts at a road. Road elements play an important role in the probability of crash or the final outcome. Find out more about safe design principles, road management and road-driver interaction in the text below.
Update of text on roads . (DaCoTA, 2012)
Text on roads (SafetyNet, 2006)
Enforcement
Traffic law enforcement is one of the effective measures to influence (speeding) behavior. The text below gives you more information on the mechanisms behind traffic enforcement, specific speed enforcement methods and their effects, and future developments.
Updated text on speed enforcement (DaCoTa, 2012)
Text on speed enforcement (SafetyNet, 2006)
Vehicles
Improving vehicle safety is a key strategy used in addressing international and national road casualty reduction targets and in achieving a safer road traffic system. The text below gives more information on safe vehicle systems, their effects but also the knowledge gaps that still exist.
Updated text on vehicle safety (DaCoTA, 2012)
Text on vehicle safety (SafetyNet, 2006)
Benchmarking and policy targets
Cost-benefit analysis
The text below describes the use of cost-benefit analysis to assess the impacts of road safety measures. It describers the main steps that are taken in a cost-benefit analyses and which measures are most cost effective.
Text on cost-benefit analysis (Dacota, 2012)
Updated text on cost-benefit analysis (SafetyNet, 2006)
Integration of road safety in other policy areas
The integration of road safety into other policy areas can achieve benefits for a range of interventions. This text looks at what integration means in relation to several policy areas and examines three key policy areas in more detail: employment, environment and health.
Text on integration of road safety in other policy areas (DaCoTA, 2012)
Quantitative road safety targets
A high price in human and economic terms is currently being paid in Europe for motorized road mobility. The text below addresses the role that quantitative road safety targets can play, how this can be done and how to ensure accountability.
Updated text on quantitative road safety targets (DaCoTA, 2012).
Text on quantitative road safety targets (SafetyNet, 2006)
Road safety management
The text below addresses the importance of good road safety management and knowledge about effective ways to improve road safety in countries. Issues like recent developments and results, integration with other policies, and the role of leadership and accountability are discussed.
Updated text on road safety management (DaCoTA, 2012)
Text on road safety management (SafetyNet, 2006)
Safety ratings
Safety rating systems present impartial information on aspects of traffic system safety. The text below addresses practical implications of safety ratings as well as current practive, effectivity and the importance of having them accepted.
Updated text on safety ratings (DaCoTA, 2012).
Text on safety ratings (SafetyNet, 2006)
Safety synthesies
Advanced driver assistance systems
Advanced driver assistance systems summary (2016)
Advanced driver assistance systems detailed (2016)
Alcohol
Alcohol summary (ERSO, 2015)
Alcohol detailed (ERSO, 2015)
Cell phone use while driving
Cell phone use while driving summary (ERSO, 2015)
Cell phone use while driving detailed (ERSO, 2015)
Children
Children summary (2015)
Children detailed (2015)
Cost Benefit Analysis
Cost Benefit Analysis summary (2016)
Driver Distraction
Driver Distraction summary (2015)
Driver Distraction detailed (2015)
Fatigue
Fatigue summary (20201516)
Fatigue detailed (2015)
Integration of Road Safety in Other Policy Areas: Synergies and Conflicts
Integration of Road Safety in Other Policy Areas: Synergies and Conflicts summary (2016)
Novice Drivers
Novice Drivers summary (2016)
Novice Drivers detailed (2016)
Older Drivers
Older Drivers summary (2015)
Older Drivers detailed (2015)
Pedestrians and Cyclists
Pedestrians and Cyclists summary (2015)
Pedestrians and Cyclists detailed (2015)
Post-impact care
Post-impact care summary (2016)
Power two wheelers
Power two wheelers summary (2015)
Power two wheelers detailed (2015)
Quantitative Road Safety Targets
Quantitative Road Safety Targets summary (2016)
Roads
Advanced driver assistance systems summary (2016)
Road Safety Management
Road Safety Management summary (2016)
Road Safety Management detailed (2016)
Safety Ratings
Safety Ratings summary (2016)
Serious Injuries
Serious Injuries summary (2015)
Serious Injuries detailed (2015)
Speed and Speed Management
Speed and Speed Management summary (2015)
Speed and Speed Management detailed (2015)
Speed Enforcement
Speed Enforcement summary (2016)
Vehicle Safety
Speed and Speed Management summary (2016)
Speed and Speed Management detailed (2016)