To improve traffic safety, the road traffic system should be designed in such a manner that the system is intrisically safe. Human error should not have such disastrous consequences, and the traffic task should be such that it fits human capacities, limitations and needs. Up to now, infrastructural measures have been emphasized in the approach. Far less attention has been paid to measures directed at the traffic participants themselves. In particular, the decision between giving traffic participants free choice and controlling their behaviour by technical means has been neglected in the debate. If control is not completely taken over, measures directed at the traffic participants are essential components of a sustainable and inherently safe road traffic system. Education and training may be considered as a tool to alter behaviour when it can not be controlled by technical means. Examples are given in the field of acquisition of skills and the capacity and motivations to make `responsible' choices. The conclusion is, that in the future traffic systems the role of education and training will change, but will still be very important. (A)
Abstract