Currently "Tier One" of road safety involves creating safer roads, safer drivers and safer vehicles, while "Tier Two" involves encouraging more utilization of public transport (and to a lesser degree, alternative transport such as cycling). The "Third Tier" of road safety would include a national strategic plan being developed to contain and minimize the overall growth in road freight transport and private motor vehicle use over future decades, and to actually reduce usage where possible. This plan also needs be linked to the national road safety strategy, and associated action plans. Given the implications for the future of road safety included in this article, we urgently need to develop this "Third Tier" of road safety. This is inextricably linked to greenhouse gas, fuel usage and public health considerations. (Author/publisher)
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