ABSTRACT
Improving road safety has many perspectives including enforcement, planning, modal shifts, and integrated policies. This presentation first discusses the work carried out at IFSTTAR for over 30 years. Based on the conclusions drawn from the analysis of blackspots versus citywide accidents, questions are raised about how to take safety into account in local action, particularly through new design of urban road networks.
The presentation then describes the two styles of thought on road safety: 1) “pragmatic”, based on beliefs and the immediate interests of organizations and 2) “rational”, the reduction in the number of accidents and their severity, based on the ability to forecast the consequences of decisions and actions. The reasons for the shift from the first style “pragmatic” to the second “rational” are described. The presentation finishes by addressing the need for integrating safety with local management including precise regulation, training of road safety specialists, and further research.
