A vision has been developed on how road safety policy could look like in the near future. This vision is meant as a stimulus for the discussion on revitalising road safety policy and not as a blueprint for the future. The vision is based on an analysis of the present road safety policy, and on considering future developments in the Netherlands. This analysis shows that the present-day road safety policy has plenty of effective measures, but it lacks the right framework to implement these measures in an adequate way. For this reason, the goals set for 2010 will not be met, unless a framework is developed in which road safety becomes a `profitable asset'. In accordance with expected developments regarding traffic and transport, government and economy, such a framework can be constructed. The idea that comes to mind is the situation in which all duties of the road maintainer, the police, the traffic legislator and the traffic controller are given to one public-private organisation that can be held liable for traffic and transport quality, in particular for road safety. Such an organisation should have access to the necessary means in order to guarantee this quality. It is recommended to invest in discussion about and research into possibilities to privatise road traffic in such a way that safe, non-congested and environmentally friendly traffic can be guaranteed. (A)
Abstract