This paper describes the approach to road traffic safety taken by the government of the Czech Republic. Improving road safety began in the 1990s with reduction of accident consequences. The most problematic areas were identified as speeding, non-use of seat belts, and danger to cyclists and pedestrians. Other factors included newly qualified drivers, drink driving, fatigue, and poor vehicle and road maintenance. Changes were made in national legislation to bring it closer to European Union (EU) legislation, including measures to enforce road regulations and obligatory use of child cycle helmets and child seat belts. The proposed programme of traffic safety to the year 2010 aims to decrease road accidents and their consequences to a level compatible with that in EU countries. Principles to achieve this include incremental steps, timely implementation on a yearly basis and regular evaluation. National, regional and local authorities all have to be involved and the necessary finance must be found. The programme is divided into four target areas: organisation and legislation, human factors, vehicles, and roads including road safety research. For the covering abstract see ITRD E118917.
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