Factors contributing to road safety are usually classified in three main groups: factors related to the design of the road infrastructure, factors related to vehicles, and finally, factors related to road users. In order to define appropriate safety measures, it is necessary to have in-depth knowledge on these three factors and the way they interact. Road users play a crucial role in the way the road traffic system operates. Thus, analyses of road users' behaviour and the main factors influencing it are fundamental to design strategies aimed at improving safety and reliability of the system. We will focus here upon the analysis of the interaction between road-users and the road environment with the aim of identifying the conditions likely to improve this interaction. We will first present a theoretical framework of analysis of road users' activity with the aim to clarify how the psychological approach can contribute to a safety diagnosis. Secondly, methodological issues will be discussed, and a case study will be used as an illustration. (A)
Abstract