This paper considers the various parties that contribute to the transport safety debate in the UK and how their views influence safety policy and regulation. Road safety has a higher priority in public policy, although rail accidents cause a proportionately higher public outcry. Popular opinion could be brought closer to the public interest by opening up to debate people's preferences and reasons for departing from them. The paper considers how reality might become closer to the ideal, by examining the role of commercial operators and suppliers, general media, government ministers, local councils, victims' groups, transport users, regulatory enforcers, public inquiries, standard-setting bodies, parliament, and academics and consultants. The strongest levers for change are seen as being the standard setters. For the covering abstract see ITRD E119655.
Abstract