Traffic safety is normally conceived to be closely connected with the separation of different groups of road users: motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Among cyclist organisations the development of separate cyclist paths has top priority. The security of motorways is supposed to be the resultof separated roadways. Of course, pedestrians are certainly most protected on pavements. Yet, this strategy is in fact counter-productive. Due to certain psychological mechanisms and technical limitations, the safety effect of traffic separation is negated - at least in the long run. Further more, and more important, the separation policy gives rise to serious ethical problems affecting the social and natural environment in an negative way. It is time, therefore, to reconsider the adequacy of this policy of traffic separation in contemporary and future traffic planning. Following a critical analysis of current safety investigations it will be shown that so-called "integrated roads" will not only have positive ethical, but very likely also environmental and safety effects. However, this presupposes that the planning authorities aim whole-heartedly to promote integrated road systems. (A)
Abstract