The report presents a method for the following use: (1) identifying the safety problems of unprotected road users, (2) giving priority to the most important groups of problem, (3) finding the causal relations between unprotected road user accidents, (4) finding suitable countermeasures and (5) evaluation of the effects of the measures on road safety. The method was tested, in modified form, in order to find suitable measures for unprotected road users in urban intersections. In order to clarify the causal connections road users involved in serious conflicts were stopped immediately after the situation occurred and interviewed. The interview comprised the road user's awareness of the situation, conflict severity and cause, disturbing moments inside or outside the vehicle and the question of guilt. Certain marked relations between personality factors and traffic behaviour were established. The road users most guilty of the conflict showed a higher degree of specific defence mechanisms than others. Similar results were obtained regarding road users involved in accidents compared with road users not involved in accidents.
Abstract