The contemporary approach to road safety problems is based on the fact that each road accident is a mistake in the interaction among driver/road user-road-vehicle. This reflects more or less exactly the technical point of view of the accident process; it is also an opportunity for traffic safety measures. It can be tried to create a "perfect" interaction among road user, road and vehicle. But if the goal of traffic safety is to be achieved, to save people's lives and their health, the question to ask first is: "How is the driver involved in the accident/what is his role in this process?" There are three possibilities: (A) Innocent victim - is fully obeying all traffic rules, but he is attacked (intentionally or unintentionally) by an other driver; (B) Accomplice - is trying to obey the traffic rules, but due to his limited physical and psychological qualities, his experience and knowledge, vehicle and road conditions, he is not able to react correctly in complicated, unclear and unexpected traffic situation; and (C) Culprit - is not obeying the traffic rules, or is overstepping them consciously. On the basis of this knowledge safety measures can be applied and decisions what to do taken: to (A) protection; to (B) create safe conditions; and (C) restriction. All these measures in the environment, enforcement and education should be evaluated on this basis resulting in the protection of life. This attitude was applied to the elaboration of the national action plan for improved road safety in the Czech Republic.
Abstract