Abstract
The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the need for accident costing and to discuss the different approaches to costing road accidents. Costing road accidents allows a balanced approach to be taken to the allocation of scarce resources. Of the methods available to cost road accidents, the method chosen depends heavily on the use of which the results are to be put. Generally, nations give priority to either maximising their GNP or the social welfare of their people. Since 1988, the UK has made use of the willingness to pay approach for costing its fatal accidents and is currently researching the use of this method for costing serious road accident injuries. (A)