1. Safe System Approach
Eric Howard

2. The Safe System Approach
Recognizes limits of the human body
Systematic approach brings benefits
Recognizes that crashes are going to happen (even with focus on prevention)
Aims to minimize severity of injury
People should not die because of system failings
Those responsible for components of the road transport system are accountable for the safety of the system 2

3. Safe System – Human Tolerances to Physical Forces – Vehicle impact speeds - Fatality thresholds
<40 km/h - pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists
<50km/h - vehicle occupants in side impact crashes with other vehicles
<70-80 km/h - vehicle occupants in head on crashes
<30 km/h – vehicle occupants in side impact crashes with poles and trees 3

4. Safe System Safer Travel Alert and compliant road users
Safer speeds
(lower speeds more forgiving of human errors)
Admittance to the system
Understanding crashes and risk
Human tolerance to physical force
Safer Vehicles
Safer roads
and roadsides (more forgiving of human errors)
Education and information supporting road users
Legislation & Enforcement of road rules 4

5. Safe System Elements Better Understanding Crashes and Risks
Crash reviews
Initial inspection and audit
At the local level, reporting to local regional panels
Central panel review of categories of crashes & common themes
Stakeholder involvement
Intensive crash data analysis
Improved understanding of road user safety issues 5

6. Safe System Elements Legislation Enforcement
Understanding current crash related behaviors - critical in developing responsive legislation
Role of local and international research is vital
Enforcement
Public perception is critical to deterrence
General deterrence to promote fear of detection
Police presence – marked & unmarked cars
Technology (safety cameras) “anywhere & anytime”
Specific deterrence to target high risk behaviours
Supported by publicity 6

7. Safe System Elements Admittance to the system – Licensing
Inexperienced drivers
Graduated licensing opportunities
Physically/mentally impaired drivers
Effective assessment processes
Restricted licence options
Alternative transport options 7

8. Safe System Elements Education & Information for
road users – Cultural Change
Understanding barriers to new countermeasure implementation
Mass Media advertising for specific campaigns – alcohol/speed/drugs
Specific information eg. brochures included with vehicle registration renewals
Local government communications and
publicity + community group involvement 8

9. Safe System – Core Elements
Safer Roads & Roadsides
Safer Vehicles
Safer Travel Speeds 9

10. Vehicle Safety
Improve vehicle safety standards to maximise crash protection
Side/curtain airbags
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to keep vehicle straight into object (not side swipe)
Whiplash protection

11. Why It Matters - The Effects of Speed Limit Changes on Casualty Crashes – Victoria 1989/1990
Urban & Rural Freeways. Limit increased from 100 to 110km/h and reversed after 27 months
Location
Before 110 v During 110 –Comparison % Change
During 110 v After 110 –Comparison % Change
Total Victoria
+24.6
-19.3
Rural
+14.8
-16.8
Urban
+48.9
-11.7
Victoria - High Severity Crashes
+21.5
-18.2
Sliogeris, 1992

12. Major crash types (fatal & serious) – Edmonton/ Alberta ?
Run-off-road (80 km/h plus zones)
Intersection – side impacts with other vehicles (50,60,70 km/h zones, urban areas)
Head on (80 km/h plus zones)
Pedestrians - (50 & 60 km/h zones, urban areas) 12

13. Run-off-Road Hit Fixed Object Crashes (Rural & Urban fringe)
Alberta
?% of Fatal Crashes
?% of Serious Injury Crashes

14. Safer Roads/Roadsides and Safer Vehicles in a Safe System framework
Scenario A – (Run off Road crashes)
Unsealed Shoulders
Unprotected roadside obstacles
Vehicle
Skids & impacts side - on into tree
Likely Outcome
Fatalities for vehicle occupants

15. Safer Roads/Roadsides and Safer Vehicles in a ‘Safe System’ framework
Scenario A – (Run off Road
crashes)
Road & Roadside
Sealed Shoulders
Barriers/hazard removal
Tactile Line edging
Vehicle
Electronic Stability Program; less likely
to slide sideways under braking.
Likely Outcome
Minor injuries when impacting barrier

16. Countermeasures – Run-off-road
Remove obstacles from ‘clear zones’ or protect with barriers on high volume roads
Benefits in sealing shoulders to avoid loss of control
Improve warning signs on curves
Reduce speed limits on winding routes

17. Summary: Countermeasures - Road and Roadside Treatments
Wire Rope Barriers
Shoulder Sealing
Tactile Edge Lining
Improved Delineation
Tree Removal
Tactile Centre Lines

18. Side Impact (intersection) crashes
? % of Urban Fatal Crashes
? % of Rural Fatal Crashes
? % of Urban Serious Injury Crashes
? % of Rural Serious Injury Crashes

19. Safer Vehicles & Safe Speed at Intersections in a Safe System Framework
Scenario A – (Intersection crash)
Travel speed/speed limit 60 km/h
Side impact protection levels low
Airbags
Driver only in 1 & 2
Driver & passenger in each vehicle
Likely Outcome:
Fatality in 2 (driver)
Fatality /serious injury in 1
(passenger)
Vehicle 1
Vehicle 2

20. Safer Vehicles & Safe Speed at intersections in a ‘Safe System’ Framework
Scenario B – (Intersection
crash)
Travel speed/speed limit 50
km/h
Side impact protection levels high
Airbags
Side Curtain in 2
Driver & passenger in 1 & 2
Driver and passenger in each
vehicle
Likely Outcome:
Serious Injury in 2 (driver)
Vehicle 2

21. Safer Roads & Roadsides: Intersection (side impact between vehicles) crashes
Identify higher crash rate intersections for serious casualty crashes – overall network in urban areas
Select countermeasures
Roundabouts
Signals & upgrades
Higher friction surfacing
Turn signals
Other treatments
Funding
Seek an ongoing specific program – own funds or insurers? 21

22. Summary: Infrastructure countermeasures - Urban Intersections
Improving skid resistance on approaches to intersections
Infrastructure treatments
Turn signals
Signals
Roundabouts
Channellisation
Turn lanes
Speed Limits

23. Intersection crashes – Role of vehicle safety & travel speed
Increase provision of head protecting curtain airbags in fleet
Increase provision of whiplash protection in seating
Lower travel speeds
Enforcement measures
Speed limits (review in higher risk locations) 23

24. Safe Roads/Roadsides and Safer Vehicles in a Safe System framework - Addressing head – on crashes
Scenario A – (Head-on crash)
Travel Speed 100km/h (limit 90)
Airbags
Driver only in vehicle 1
Driver & Passenger in each vehicle
Likely Outcome
3 fatalities (+ likely fatality/serious
injury in vehicle 1)

25. Safe Roads/Roadsides and Safer Vehicles in a Safe System Framework - Addressing head – on crashes
Scenario B – (Head-on crash)
Travel Speed 100km/h (limit 90)
Airbags
Driver & Passenger in 1 & 2
Driver & Passenger in each vehicle
Infrastructure
Duplication or
Wire Rope Barriers (2 + 1)
Best Likely Outcome
Minor injuries in 1

26. Safe Speed/Safer Vehicles – addressing pedestrian crashes in a ‘Safe System’ framework
Scenario A – Pedestrian crash
Speed Zone 50 km/h
SUV
Pedestrian struck at 45 km/h
Outcome
Fatality
Scenario B – Pedestrian crash
Speed Zone 40 km/h
Pedestrian struck at 35 km/h
Pedestrian friendly vehicle
Likely Outcome
Serious Injury

27. Countermeasures – pedestrian crashes
Lower Speeds where pedestrians interact with traffic
Physically separate pedestrians from vehicles

28. Safer Speeds Speed Limits School & construction speed zones
Variable limits in higher pedestrian risk areas
Arterial road limits in Edmonton
Rural road limits
Fact sheets/information

29. Safer Vehicles Inform the community why vehicle safety matters
Building consumer demand for safety
Fleet operator commitment
Influencing vehicle makers
Improve maintenance of safety features
Eliminating inappropriate vehicle advertising

30. Summary
Alberta & the City of Edmonton will reduce its road toll through an evidence driven partnership approach.
Further gains will be made through a Safe System focus on improved road infrastructure, safer vehicles, application of safe speed limits and continued efforts to convince road users to accept and comply with road laws.

31. Road Safety & Levels of Intervention31

32. Safe System Approach
Eric Howard