SAFESTAR is a research study focusing on traffic safety for what is known as the "trans-European roadway network" that links the major European centres. The project is part of the 1994-1998 European research programme TRANSPORT within the Fourth Framework Programme. SAFESTAR is included in the sub-programme of road traffic and transport. Nine European research institutes are collaborating on SAFESTAR; the SWOV institute for Road Safety Research is coordinating these activities. The knowledge needed for being able to carry out an effective safety policy at the European level is insufficient in regard to various safety aspects of road infrastructures. SAFESTAR was established to fill in these gaps of knowledge, with special notice being given to the following seven topics: * emergency lanes and shoulders along motorways; * tunnels located on motorways; * express roads; * cross-sections of rural roads; * curves in rural roads; * major junctions on roads in urban areas and * assessing the safety of road infrastructure during the planning and design stages (the performing of safety audits). SAFESTAR was divided in 8 technical Workpackages. This report contains the result of Workpackage Task 5.3: Improvement of models on the relationship between speed and road characteristics. (Author/publisher)
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