For the assessment of German transport infrastructure projects, the use of cost-benefit analysis is a common method. An important benefit component within those analyses is the reduction of accident victims, which has to be expressed in monetary units. Following the current literature, the value of a statistical life (VSL) or, more generally, the value of risk reduction (VRR) can be determined based on willingness to pay values using discrete choice analysis. This conceptual study examines the value of risk reduction for the German case regarding four different injury categories. However, the focus of the pilot survey is on the development and review of the survey concept and does not claim to determine representative values. Overall, 214 participants took part in the experiments on route choices with the following listed attributes: travel time, travel cost, and accident risk. In order to increase the degree of reality and to analyse its impact within the experiment, a driving simulator is used for one subgroup right before the actual questioning takes place. In addition to the presentation of the pilot survey results, this study also proposes options for integrating the results in German accident cost calculation. Furthermore, the updating of the VRR is discussed. Potential adaptations for an extension of the pilot study method for a Germany-wide main study are presented as well. The results confirm the discrete choice model approach as a suitable instrument in order to estimate the willingness to pay for road safety improvements. Moreover, the basic concept of the questionnaire used has proven to be appropriate. An influence of the driving simulation on the results could not be identified. (Author/publisher)
Abstract