On May 30 — June 2, the National Road Safety Authority held an international conference on the subject of safety and mobility for vulnerable road users: pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists. The conference, which took place in Jerusalem, was cosponsored by the American Transportation Research Board and the Forum of European Road Safety Research. Recent years have witnessed an increase in the rate of injuries among vulnerable road users, corresponding to a rise in the number of pedestrians and the use of motorcycles and bicycles for transportation purposes. Although significant changes have started to be implemented in the safety of vehicle users and passengers, these changes are not being manifested among vulnerable road users. The upward trend in the mobility of vulnerable road users on one hand, compounded by the decrease in their level of safety on the other, prompted the National Road Safety Authority to organize an international conference on the subject. Statistical data, international comparisons, studies, and research methods on vulnerable road user safety and mobility were presented and analysed; and plans of action — social marketing, information campaigns, education, training, licensing, enforcement, infrastructure, protective measures and more — were discussed. Conference participants included researchers, policy makers and the representatives of organizations and companies that deal with road safety, both from Israel and all over the world: Austria, Australia, Italy, United States, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Belgium, Great Britain, Brazil, Jamaica, Germany, India, Holland, Greece, Japan, Montenegro, New Zealand, Spain, the Czech Republic, France, Colombia, Canada, Kenya, Sweden and Switzerland. In the course of the conference, contemporary researchers presented innovative and professional knowledge; activities to promote safety; and policies, trends and areas of interest pertaining to subjects such as vehicle and infrastructure design and engineering, planning, human behaviour, and analysing the transportation situation in advanced and developing countries. The conference gave rise to professional networking among government officials, policy managers and researchers, for carrying out studies on vulnerable road users; and new work groups were assembled to promote international cooperation. (Author/publisher)
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