Mobility plays an important social and economic role in modern life. It therefore cannot and must not be restricted. At present, however, the social cost of mobility is all too high. Road accidents can cause incalculable suffering. The victims often endure social losses, personal anxiety and worries and financial problems. For this reason alone, the loss of life and severe health difficulties cannot simply be ignored, still less accepted. Today, mobility need not come at such a high human price. The economic costs generated by road accidents run to around CHF 13 billion every year, including a very conservative estimate of the intangible harm suffered by the victims (this figure is based on the1998 report on the cost of road and rail accidents in Switzerland, published by the Federal Office for Spatial Development [2002] and takes account of current accident figures and intervening price changes). The impact of these costs on the individuals concerned is reflected, for example, in the non-occupational accident insurance figures, which show that road accidents now account for more than 40%of insurance payments (Accident statistics UVG 1998 – 2002, SUVA [2004]). Earlier studies and concepts aimed to promote road safety in Switzerland and, to this end, placed greater emphasis on the duties of the Confederation. Two reports in this regard were particularly important: 'Combating road accidents in Switzerland', published in 1969 by the study group appointed by the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), and 'Safety on the Road – Strategies and Measures for the 1990s', published in 1993 by the FDJP Road Safety Experts Group. The Federal Council took note of both, though without issuing any specific instructions for their implementation. The fact that the roads have become safer in recent decades may be ascribed to many different measures and factors. Contributing factors include the introduction of speed limits, mandatory seatbelt and helmet use, advances in automotive engineering, improvements in the road network, enhanced driver training and traffic calming measures in residential areas. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting