Highway transportation is going through fundamental changes in thinking and practice. Emphasis on environment rather than on mobility has brought renewed vigour in the application of: (1) transportation systems; (2) demand management tools; and (3) of revitalising slower non-motorised modes such as cycling and walking. There are consequential implications for the safety of road users. Other transportation safety issues which would become more pronounced in the 21st century include: (i) the growing proportion of elderly drivers in traffic streams; (ii) the selective use of Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS); and (iii) road works area safety. Another emerging concept which will have important bearing on safety is that of nighttime economy or the `24-hour city'. This will require further research on driver behaviour under heavy urban traffic flows in nighttime conditions. This paper provides a detailed treatment of the emerging changes in road transportation. The paper discusses comprehensively their safety implications, and programmes for dealing with these important issues. (A)
Samenvatting