It is policy in the Netherlands to further reduce the number of road traffic accidents despite increasing volumes of traffic. The sustainable safety strategy is characterised by a proactive and preventive approach on the basis that 90% of road accidents are attributable to human error. A sustainable safe traffic system comprises a road environment with an infrastructure adapted to the limitations of the road user, vehicles equipped with technology to simplify the driving task and provided with features that protect vulnerable and other road users, and road users that are well informed and adequately educated. Road classification principles are described and it is noted that urban collector, urban arterial and two-lane rural roads have the highest accident rates per mile. Suggested safety improvements include the separation of non-motorised traffic (cyclists) from motorised traffic, speed reductions at junctions, traffic lights or roundabouts. The full implementation of the improvements cannot be achieved in the short term, so the most dangerous roads have been prioritised. From 2002-2010 the intention is to implement the improvement on the entire Dutch road network. The use of electronic means of law enforcement and intelligent speed adaptation are discussed. Short descriptions of six case studies are provided. For the covering abstract see ITRD E123863.
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