The report gives an account of a project commissioned by the Swedish National Road Administration concerning "The effect of traffic and vehicle insurance on traffic safety". A literature survey based on over twenty reports, lectures and memoranda reports on different factors influencing the size of the premium and various types of road user behaviour ranging from the choice of transport standard, means of travel and vehicles to driving behaviour. The literature survey shows that for various reasons it is difficult but not impossible to influence road user behaviour through this kind of action. Based on a theoretical frame of reference, for example, the fundamental possibilities of various types of insurance are discussed with regard to influence on road user behaviour and also traffic safety and possible changes of the insurance that would lead to such effects. The conclusions state, for example, that an insurance linked to the individual and not only to the vehicle, which is currently the case, would create untested possibilities and conditions for traffic safety effects. Furthermore, the insurance cost as a variable part of the total vehicle cost and a differentiation of the insurance premium concerning accident risk and personal injury cost instead of the current total accident cost could offer possibilities of choice, which may result in traffic safety gains. A differentiation of the premium cost if road user behaviour has been proved safe or unsafe from a traffic safety point of view would increase the possibilities of influencing actual behaviour in traffic, as well as traffic safety. (A) For the English version see ST 20000636 S (VTI Rapport 415A)
Abstract