Abstract
Intelligent transport systems (ITS) have a potential to radically improve all main problems of existing road traffic and transportation systems, e.g. safety, environment and efficiency. However, without the possibility to measure safety performance, improvements cannot be evaluated. As a basis for this paper road traffic safety is described as a system with stochastic behaviour. Following this, safety performance functions are introduced as objective descriptors. Recommendations for early ITS implementations which can improve road safety is provided together with suggestions for technical harmonisation and co-operation both within European non EU countries and across EU-borders.