1. ACRS: ACT Chapter. The Safe System approach and Speed ‘ Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective Eric Howard, OECD ‘Towards Zero’ project October 14, 2009

2. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 www.internationaltransportforum.org/jtrc/safety/targets

3. Towards Zero – Ambitious Road Safety Targets and the Safe System Approach OECD/ITF Joint Transport Research Centre Working Group 2005 – 2008 24 representatives, including World Bank, WHO, FIA Foundation

4. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF “Towards Zero, Achieving ambitious Targets through a Safe System Approach” Report, 2008 - What did we find? Targets are aspirational - not empirically derived Targets unlikely to be achieved by most countries Strategies incremental in nature Lack of longer term vision Unease at trauma levels and awareness of problems – but: reluctance to implement proven solutions and to seek change in social norms lack of certainty and confidence about achieving substantial future progress - “how to implement” issues

5. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 What did we find? A focus on individual interventions rather than what is necessary for a fundamentally safer road transport system Safe system approach not yet widely understood or implemented Institutional management arrangements not adequate Very limited awareness of spending levels on treatment and on prevention of road injury by government Little done to date to inform the public about the benefits of a safe system approach

6. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 What should be the level of ambition ? Progression to next milestone of specified reductions in fatalities & serious injuries ? OR Ultimate elimination of fatalities & serious injuries (with steady progress through strategies and targets proposed in the interim)?

7. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 What should be the level of ambition ? LONG TERM All countries can adopt this “elimination” vision for the long term Not necessary to specify when it will be reached – but strong statement about unacceptability of serious casualties Informs communities - this is a reasonable long term expectation Responds to a strong and growing market for safety as community awareness grows  Volvo: no occupant killed or injured post 2020

8. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 What should be the level of ambition ? INTERIM What is a challenging level of ambition for interim time periods? Suggest comparison with 5 – 10 year targeted % reductions in fatalities and serious injuries of good practice countries Develop performance indicators to measure progress towards a safe system

9. Adopt a level of ambition to eliminate road fatalities and serious injuries in the longer term - with steady progress through interim (good practice) strategies and targets in the short to medium term Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Ambitious Vision

10. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 The importance of a clear vision - Sweden’s Vision Zero Requires fundamental changes in: how stakeholders encouraged to take action to improve safety how the road environment is managed Travel speed is crucial to the kinetic energy equation – recognises the primacy of speed management for road safety

11. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Netherlands - Advancing sustainable safety Infrastructure to be designed to meet human capacities & limitations Vehicle to support execution of traffic tasks & provide crash protection Road user to be well informed and willing to correctly execute the task Traffic system has to be forgiving for dangerous action by road users so that these cannot lead to crashes

12. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 The importance of a clear vision WA – “Towards Zero” Statement to Parliament, 19 March, 2009 by Minister for Road Safety

13. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 WA – “Towards Zero” “Today I ask members to take the moral high ground. I ask members to refuse to accept that death and serious injury are an inevitable result of using our road system; they are certainly not acceptable consequences. Towards Zero is our bold new road safety strategy for Western Australia, and its core theme is that we should never accept road trauma as a fact of life. It will challenge us to strive for zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”

14. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Improving future road safety performance to deliver increased ambition Essential Steps  implement proven interventions  a new approach – a safe system  adequacy of road safety management system in place  robust interim target & strategy

15.  Review safety management capacity  Address capacity weaknesses as a priority  Adapt and implement interventions used in more successful countries Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Implement proven interventions

16. How can road safety performance be improved? Essential Steps implement proven interventions a new approach – a safe system adequacy of road safety management system in place robust interim target & strategy

17. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 A new approach – a Safe System Means to achieve ambitious vision of elimination Challenges us to take a different view of risk on the network, to work towards a system which is safe Energises necessary development over time The institutional means of achieving the long term vision and the interim results are to be found Shapes interventions to meet this goal – rather than relying on “traditional” interventions to set the limits of any long term targets

18. Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 The Safe System Approach The road transport system is to be designed: - recognising that accidents will happen – human error - to respect biomechanical limits of the human body by better managing crash forces Individuals responsible for abiding by rules - Continued efforts to improve user compliance System designers responsible for building in safety - licensing policy, fleet operating policies, roads and roadsides, vehicles, speed limits, new road rules, land use planning - redesigning system to accommodate human failings

20. Safe System - Human Tolerances to Physical Forces <30 km/h pedestrians, cyclists (motorcyclists) <50km/h vehicle occupants in side impact crashes <70-80 km/h vehicle occupants in head on crashes Prevent collisions with roadside objects on high speed roads

21. The Safe System Approach - Sweden System Designers – Typical Responses to The Challenge. Consumer based vehicle crash protection Crash protective barriers on rural roads Rural road speed limits based on level of road protection Roundabout treatments at intersections Encouraging 30km/h urban zones Better compliance (speed, alcohol, belts, helmets) Promoting safety as competitive variable in road transport contracts Employers workplace safety responsibilities – travel

22. The Safe System Approach “The safe system manager is prepared to step into environments where safety analyses and targets may be challenged by and challenge other aspects of social and economic life” “..System designers to accept responsibility for the safety of users of the road transport system and explain the safety constraints within which users need to operate.” OECD/ ITF, Towards Zero, 2008

23. The Safe System Approach Maximising mobility consistent with safe travel Traditional approach – road authorities have striven to improve safety while maintaining desired mobility New thinking, inherent in the practice of leading road safety jurisdictions (Towards Zero, OECD/ITF 2008) is that we need to maximise mobility consistent with safe travel This is a fundamental shift in thinking - inherent to a safe system approach

24. The Safe System Approach Maximising mobility consistent with safe travel Need to digest the import of this shift. It is substantial. Safety is no longer to be the variable that is always traded off to maintain mobility What does this mean for mobility? - usually, very little. Need for some hard data on travel time changes!

25. Safe system approach The importance of shifting to a proactive approach – rather than dealing with blackspots after deaths have occurred. Our road network is fundamentally unsafe It needs to be made safer/ forgiving

26. Safe system approach A focus on major crash types- For example, Intersection crashes – Measures which contribute to a safe system such as: Increased provision of head protecting curtain airbags in fleet Increased provision of whiplash protection in seating Lowering of travel speeds below 50km/h – Enforcement measures – Speed limits (review in higher risk locations) Installation of roundabouts, fully controlled turn signals, raised platforms, staggered T treatments, intelligent warning signage & more

27. Pursue a safe system approach to road safety in your jurisdiction Safe system

28. ‘Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 How can road safety performance be improved? Essential Steps implement proven interventions a new approach – a safe system adequacy of road safety management system in place robust interim target & strategy

29. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Review road safety management capacity Road Safety Management System (Bliss & Breen, 2009, in print) World Bank uses detailed checklist to assess capacity of a country to deliver road safety

30. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Review road safety management capacity - Institutional Management Functions Results focus Coordination Legislation Funding & resource allocation Promotion Monitoring & Evaluation R & D and knowledge transfer

31. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Key institutional management functions Developing a “Results focus” Achieve appropriate political and institutional management framework to deliver results Lead agency ? Define roles and responsibilities – agencies Develop management capacity :  understanding issues  increased knowledge – develop safe system thinking  evidence - based policy recommendations  comprehensive interim strategy with associated target

32. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Strengthening road safety management capacity Underpin improved capacity for intervention delivery Accept a changed set of objectives Support genuine partnerships with other agencies Review and revise standards, guidelines and policies to reflect safe system approaches Staff development throughout the organisation Encourage innovation Manage outcome performance

33. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Key institutional management functions Coordination  multi – sectoral decision making hierarchy  keep groups small – key agencies develop key partnerships between stakeholders e.g. police and roads authorities.  specify individual (and combined) agency commitments  consultative mechanisms with NGO’s, business, public  engage professional organizations in road safety e.g. engineering and medical professions encourage all party Parliamentary transport and health interest in road safety.

34. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Other key institutional management functions Legislation Funding & resource allocation Promotion Monitoring and evaluation R & D and knowledge transfer

35. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Funding Adequacy and Opportunities Funding and investment suggest review of government and personal injury insurer outlays on post crash treatment - compared to investment in prevention opportunities to be smarter about these expanded investment opportunities Pursue revised estimate of fatality and serious injury (Willingness to pay basis)

36. A step change in investment in road safety is required. Improve transparency of funding levels for (a) treatment of crash consequences and (b) investment in trauma prevention by government and insurers Investment opportunities exist - strong business case preparation is required OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Invest in Road Safety

37. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Key institutional management functions Promotion critical advocacy role for practitioners within government - within agencies/ with ministers offices and ministers - build political support. Absolutely fundamental to getting issues on agenda improve public awareness of risks on road network – build ownership of issues lead the journey from concept to practice for agency operating policies, standards & guidelines

38. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Monitoring and evaluation Improving future performance Intermediate outcome/ safety performance indicators  Building understanding of benefits of use  Defining measures for use  Measuring progress towards a safe system

39. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Performance Indicators - Sweden 50% fatalities reduction target (1996 – 2007) Sub-targets : increasing the proportion of traffic on busy state roads protected from serious head-on and single vehicle accidents from 10% to 90%; reducing travel speed by 6 kph on the state road network (excluding roads that are protected from serious head-on and single vehicle accidents); increasing seatbelt use to 91% reducing the proportion of drivers under the influence of alcohol involved in fatal accidents from 28% to 17% increasing the proportion of cars with at least four stars in EuroNCAP crashworthiness ratings, from 17 to 50%.

40. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Performance Indicators – Norway (50% fatalities reduction target-2008 to 2020) Increase share of vehicle kilometres performed by cars: rated 4 or 5 stars in EuroNCAP 36 % to 90 %. with electronic stability control 19 % to 95 % with autonomous cruise control 0 % to 20 % with enhanced neck injury protection 4 % to 75 %

41. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Performance Indicators – Norway (2) (50% fatalities reduction target-2008 to 2020) Increase share of heavy vehicles: with no brake defects 72 % to 90 % complying with regulations concerning length of daily hours of service (from tachographs) 94.5 % to 97 % Reduce share of vehicle kilometres: by drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs 0.5 % to 0.35 % performed by fatigued drivers (based on self-reports) 11 % to 8.25 % Improve safety standard of: main road network so that : 170 fewer killed or seriously injured other national roads so that : 140 fewer killed or seriously injured regional and local roads so that : 40 fewer killed or seriously injured

42. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Performance Indicators Need to develop for Australian jurisdictions (Some potential examples) Number of high-risk intersections upgraded to Safe System standard per year Proportion of vkt travelled on roads with 70 km/h+ speed limits with sealed shoulders (by road type) Proportion of new vehicle sales with 5 star NCAP protection, ESC and side/ curtain airbags Proportion of vehicles speed-limited to 120 km/h

43. ‘Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 How can road safety performance be improved? Essential Steps implement proven interventions a new approach – a safe system adequacy of road safety management system in place robust interim target & strategy

44. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Adopting robust interim targets developing strategy options based on data and research preparing targets for related strategy options adopting a strategy adopting the associated calculated target setting sub-targets for outputs, performance indicators, final outcomes, social cost savings steps towards the ultimate elimination goal

45. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Adopting robust interim targets Strategy drives targets. Base the estimation of any proposed interim target on the known effectiveness of strategies and actions - introduced previously by other countries. Good intentions are not enough! The “how to implement” issues need to have been fully considered An interim calculated target is ‘ambitious’ - if comparable (in % terms) to current interim targets of successful countries

46. Agree robust and ambitious interim strategies and actions across government and adopt consequent calculated targets. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Interim strategies & targets

47. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Raising the level of ambition - understanding the opportunities to improve performance New approaches are available to lift future performance – including:  Safe system  Strengthened road safety management capacity  Robust interim strategies and targets  Safety Performance Indicators The level of ambition can respond to and reflect these substantial opportunities

48. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Achieving Ambitious Targets - Recommendations (1) Setting targets assists achievement (2) Implement proven interventions (3) Adopt a highly ambitious vision (4) Actively develop a safe system and SPI’s to drive progress (5) Review your road safety management system

49. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Achieving Ambitious Targets - Recommendations (6)Build robust strategies, actions, associated targets (7)Collect/ analyse data to understand crash risks and measure current performance (8) Improve transparency in funding and resource allocation. Step change in investment required. (9)Develop support at the highest political level (10) Achieve knowledge transfer

50. OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Summary - Improving future performance to deliver increased ambition Consider what is required to achieve a “safe system”, ie., to make the system safe – and work towards it! Review and strengthen safety management capacity Set robust performance indicators, interim strategies & targets to move – over time - towards the elimination vision

51. ‘Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective OECD / ITF Towards Zero Report, 2008 Interim and longer term performance “Safe system” outcomes “Traditional” outcomes time - years fatalities & serious injuries Required trend

52. ACRS: ACT Chapter. The Safe Systems approach and Speeding ‘ Vision Zero’ and the ‘Safe Systems Approach’ : An International Perspective Eric Howard, THANK YOU OECD ‘Towards Zero’ project October 14, 2009