Although many of the activities associated with the road safety year would have taken place in any case, the short term aim of publicity and awareness was successfully achieved amongst researchers. There was little evidence of any increase in public awareness or concern. Trends in UK fatal and serious accidents show a peak in 1965 and a general decline since, and the death rate per distance travelled is one of the lowest in developed countries. Drink/driving and seat belt legislation, the introduction of speed limits, the development of accident investigation techniques and road safety units, major road construction and improvements in vehicle design have all contributed to the reduction in casualties since 1965. If current practice in countermeasures is maintained at the present level, it is estimated that casualties could be reduced by one-sixth over the next decade. If other measures such as better vehicle design, extension of low cost engineering to area wide schemes and the new initiatives in education, training and enforcement were included the potential saving in casualties could be up to one-third. Public response to the application of countermeasures is also critical. This paper was presented to the international symposium 'European Road Safety Year 1986', Federal Republic of Germany, Police Training Academy, Munster, October 1987.
Abstract