A broad-brush overview of developments in transport safety is given. This overview does not pretend to be complete, but indicates a number of trends in the development of transport systems, taking into account operational and technological, institutional, and policymaking perspectives. These trends and their possible impacts for transport safety are elaborated with specific reference to Dutch road safety. While some of the changes provide opportunities for improvement in transport safety, many of them may have adverse impacts. Indications of a reversing trend in safety add to the need for new approaches to cope with the safety issues raised. Such approaches should be pro-active and address both substantive and procedural aspects, taking into account all systems levels. In conclusion, a number of challenges are identified, including the development of transport safety as a more integral notion related to a better understanding of the transport system as a whole, implementing this notion in primary processes, technological and policy developments, and improving the safety knowledge infrastructure. (A)
Abstract