1. Regional Road Safety Workshop
SAFE SYSTEM APPROACH

2. Content I | The Concept -Safe system Approach II | Safe Roads
- Key Principles for Safer Design
II | Safe Roads
II | Safe Users
II | Safe Vehicles
II | Road Safety Management
II | What does it mean in an African context ?
II | The Road Safety Manuals

3. Concept

4. Vision Based on acceptance of human error
A Safe System Approach
Because of the nature of accidents, Road Safety should be perceived as a system
Vision
Based on acceptance of human error
Road accidents therefore cannot be completely avoided
The goal is to ensure that accidents do not result in serious human injury

5. Key Principles of Safer Design
1: Design roads for ALL users
2: Provide a clear, consistent and self explanatory message
3: Encourage adequate speed and behaviour according to the road design
4: Reduce conflicts
5: Create a forgiving road

6. The road is a shared space
Consider the needs of all types of users
Special attention to vulnerable users (motorbikes, bicycles, pedestrians)
Vulnerable users represent over 50%
of killed and injured users

7. A forgiving Road
Road side treatment:

8. Not forgiving

9. Not Self explaining = confusion

10. A Safe System Approach SAFE ROADS
Road Standards:
Road Standards is a collection of best knowledge and best practices of the road engineers
The goal is to make a homogeneous road system with a high level of safety
Consensus should be reached among all stakeholders

11. A Safe System Approach SAFE ROADS
Road Authorities:
Make a plan for safer roads
Spend at least 10% of the budget on safety
Promote safe operation
Apply road safety engineering
Ensure work zone safety

12. Road Safety Engineering: Two Strategies
Based on accidents that have happened (for example black spot works)
Accident Reduction (Reactive Works)
Application of knowledge (for example Road Safety audit)
Accident Prevention (Pro-active Works)

13. Key Principles of Road Safety Engineering
Design for all road users
Provide early, clear and consistent messages to the driver
Encourage appropriate speeds and behaviour by design
Reduce conflicts
Make allowances for the bad or impaired driver
Create a forgiving road

14. Speed is a Key Factor

15. Speed is a Key Factor

16. Speed Reducing
Reduce vehicle speed to improve living conditions and safety of vulnerable users

17. Before

18. After

21. Safe system at all stages……
Assessment
Road Safety Audit
Road Safety Inspection
Black Spots Works
Proactive
Reactive
New Roads
Existing Roads
Road Safety Auditors
Road Safety Team

22. A Safe System Approach SAFE USERS
Education
Knowledge
Training
Skills
Attitude
Information
Behaviour
Enforcement

23. A Safe System Approach SAFE VEHICLES
New cars:
Implement safety standards
Enforce safety features
Airbags
Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Pedestrian protection technologies

24. A Safe System Approach SAFE VEHICLES
Used cars:
Revise vehicle inspection system to focus on safety issues
Updating safety requirements
Change frequency of inspections
Upgrade police vehicle controls etc.

25. A Safe System Approach POST-ACCIDENT RESPONSE
Rescue Service
Concept: the Golden Hour
If professional medical assistance is given to accident victims within one hour the chances of survival will increase dramatically

26. A Safe System Approach ROAD SAFETY MANAGEMENT
Safety in planning:
Not only technical solutions
Sustainable traffic management in planning
Reduce demand for traffic
Reduce car traffic
Speed management
Encourage use of bicycles and (safe) public transport

27. Road Safety is a process not a project
The Concept
Road Safety is a process not a project
Road Safety is a quality measure of the road transport system and must be an integral part of all activities

28. Road Safety
Road Safety is not to regulate what the driver should do but what he actually does
Road Safety is not building a pedestrian bridge – it is to make pedestrians use it
Road Safety is not putting up a speed limit sign – it is to make the drivers go slower

29. What does it mean in an African context ?
Challenges
Limited budgets and capacity
Road Safety is not always a top priority in Political Agendas
Traffic Accidents have negative impact on Health and Economy
Road Safety Awareness/culture is still weak among users, managers and decision makers
Lack of access to the right authorities/lack of power to change
Mix traffic and growing motorization rates
Weak law enforcement
Opportunities
There is still a great room for improvement
Integrate Road Safety at earliest stages of road projects is cost-effective and can save many lives
Reducing traffic accidents has a positive impact on poverty reduction
It is possible to develop low cost Road Safety measures with high impact on reducing traffic accidents
Best practices are developed worldwide and supported by international donors community
Opportunity for a better Urban planning
Road Safety education/awareness

30. Better Road Safety Management Better Post-Crash Response
The Road Safety Decade of Action: A Global Plan applying Safe System Approach
Better Road Safety Management
Safer Roads
Safer Vehicles
Safer Road Users
Better Post-Crash Response

31. The Road Safety Manuals
New Roads and Schemes - Road Safety Audit (RSA)
Existing Roads - Proactive Approaches: This manual provides guidance on proactive Road Safety. Inspection and Assessment methods
Existing Roads - Reactive Approaches: This manual provides guidance on reactive methods for the identification and treatment of hazardous locations, roads and routes
Characteristics:
Based on best practices from a number of countries worldwide, including current practices in Africa
Adopting a ‘Safe System’ approach which is concerned with engineering the road environment so that only low severity crashes are possible when users make mistakes
The approach has been tailored for practical application in Africa