The Safe System differs from traditional approaches to road safety which focused largely on the actions of the road user. Research from Scandinavia and South Australia shows that even if all road users complied with road rules, fatalities would only fall by around 50% and injuries by 30%. So if everyone obeyed the road rules, New Zealand would still have more than 130 deaths on the road each year. The Safe System approach looks beyond the driver. It identifies and addresses all the causes of crash trauma because serious crashes are system failures. A more forgiving system means that when someone makes a mistake it is less likely to result in loss of life or limb. The Safe System approach aims to create a forgiving road system based on these four principles: - people make mistakes: we need to recognise that people make mistakes and crashes are inevitable - people are vulnerable: our bodies have a limited ability to withstand crash forces without being seriously injured or killed - we need to share responsibility: system designers# and the people who use the roads must all share responsibility for creating a road system where crash forces do not result in death or serious injury * we need to strengthen all parts of the system: we need to improve the safety of roads and roadsides, speeds, vehicles, and road use so that if one part of the system fails, other parts will still protect the people involved. # System designers aren’t just people who build roads. This term refers to everyone whose work can affect road safety outcomes. So system designers could be planners, engineers, media and communications teams, policy makers, asset managers, enforcement officers, etc. But they also include a wider range of professions that traditionally wouldn’t have been considered as having a direct effect on road safety. Some examples and how they can contribute to a Safe System: * Insurers can incentivise road safety choices * Utility companies can choose not to place power poles by the side of the road so that the roadsides are more forgiving if someone makes a mistake * Fleet managers can choose five star vehicles so staff are protected in the event of a crash, and introduce a safe driving policy so staff and employers share responsibility for good driving behaviour * The media can report stories in a Safe System way by looking at all the factors contributing to a crash and not simply blaming the driver. (Author/publisher)
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