As part of European Transport Safety Council (ETSC's) current programme which receives matched funding from the European Commission, the European Transport Safety Council has brought together independent experts from across the EU to carry out a multi-disciplinary review of pedestrian and pedal cyclist safety in urban areas. The aim is to identify the key problems which need to be addressed and successful practice internationally in implementing effective measures. Recommendations are made for appropriate actions locally, nationally and by the EU for the short to medium term. In 1996 more than 9,400 pedestrians and cyclists were killed in EU countries, contributing around 22 per cent of all road deaths. The overall long term trend in deaths has been downward for both pedestrians and cyclists, but this may be due in some instances to a decline in walking and cycling as more people take to their cars for local journeys. However, this trend may be influenced in future by the encouragement now being given in several member States to travel by foot, bicycle or public transport. For example, the Danish National Traffic Plan states that 4 per cent of total car traffic should be converted into cycling and walking by the year 2005 and one-third of all car traffic under 3 km into non-motorised travel. Most road safety problems for pedestrians and cyclists are common to all Member States. These result from a complex mix of factors, but underlying all other problems is the fact that the modern traffic system is designed largely from a car-user perspective. There has been a lack of coherent planning of route networks for pedestrians and cyclists. The key strategies for achieving a safe traffic system for pedestrians and cyclists are: Managing the traffic mix, by separating different kinds of road use to eliminate conflicts where conditions are favourable to separation; Creating safer conditions elsewhere for integrated use of road space, for example through speed and traffic management, increased user and vehicle conspicuity, and vehicle engineering and technology; Modifying the attitudes and behaviour of drivers of motor vehicles through information, training and the enforcement of traffic law; Consulting and informing pedestrians and cyclists about changes being made for their benefit, and encouraging them in steps that they can take to reduce their risk; and Mitigating the consequences of crashes through crash protective design and encouraging the use of protective equipment. (A)
Abstract