This paper concerns the use of in-depth studies of fatal accidents in analysing the traffic safety quality of the road system, according to the Swedish concept of Vision Zero in non-tolerance of fatal or serious injury accidents. The purposes of in-depth studies of fatal accidents are to raise awareness of the public health problem at decision-making levels of society; and to give insight into failures of the road system, as a tool for quality assurance. A model was developed to classify fatal accidents into three groups; user behaviour, improper vehicle or restraint use; and road system failure such as inappropriate speed control. An accident can qualify for more than one grouping. Most fatal accidents between 1998 and 1999 came into the third group. A new approach to using in-depth studies has been developed to analyse the chain of factors leading to the fatal outcome and ascertain the countermeasures and responsibilities. This shifts the view of responsibility from the road user to the system designers. For the covering abstract see ITRD E118917.
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