Vision Zero: latest road safety research and initiatives from Brake

Global initiatives Policy: Sustainable Development Goals Public space including streets in cities is reducing, according to a report on sustainable cities and communities from UN-Habitat, a United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Streets have important social, economic and health benefits for urban communities, yet they have decreased in cities by 4% in the past 20 years. UN-Habitat suggests that poor urban planning has contributed to the decline and recommends that local authorities plan in advance to ensure sufficient public space is distributed throughout cities. Progress towards meeting the targets set in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has been mixed according to the report, which also calls for improved monitoring of air quality in cities, and investment in smart, green integrated transport systems that are safe, accessible and affordable. Sustainability Research: Bike share systems Bike share systems are one of the fastest-growing modes of urban transport, with more than 1000 cities operating bike share schemes and a global fleet of around 4.5 million bicycles. The International Transport Forum (ITF) has assessed the safety risks and rewards of expanding cycling fleets in urban centres, including looking at ways in which new safety technologies can be used to protect cyclists and build a more detailed picture of crash risk. The ITF advises bike share operators and local policy-makers to develop consistent and detailed reporting procedures that will monitor crash risk and also provide evidence to support the introduction of safety measures such as segregated cycling paths.

Vehicles Policy: Autonomous vehicles Widespread vehicle automation is rapidly becoming a reality and stakeholders must make road user safety a key priority, according to a new report from the International Transport Forum (ITF). Safer Roads with Automated Vehicles? examines the potential impact of increased automation on road safety and outlines the need for a safe system approach to protect road users. It also highlights the need for robust cybersecurity measures for connected vehicles, to ensure that systems are resilient to attack and can respond appropriately if a vehicle’s defences or sensors fail. Roads Research: Autonomous vehicles Safer and smarter infrastructure is vital for the introduction of autonomous cars and trucks, says the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP) as it calls for ‘roads that cars can read’. A joint report from EuroRAP, the UK Road Safety Programme and the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) investigates the relationship between road infrastructure and safety for conventional and increasingly autonomous vehicles. It also provides a framework for infrastructure safety investment that includes clear signage and road markings that can interact with sensor technology fitted to vehicles. Maintenance of infrastructure will be essential for a safe transition to autonomous vehicles. Road users Initiative: Drink-driving The Belgian government has introduced new laws making the use of alcohol interlocks mandatory for high-level and repeat drink-drive offenders. Drivers prosecuted with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 1.8% or above, or repeat offenders with a BAC of 1.2% or above, will be required to install an alcohol interlock in their vehicle and complete an accompanying rehabilitation programme. Research by the VIAS Institute estimates that these measures will reduce the likelihood of repeat offences by 75%. Raising awareness   Leading road safety campaigners from nine African countries have met to create an advocacy action plan for safe school zones across the region. NGO leaders from Benin, Botswana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Ghana, Tanzania, Namibia and Zambia agreed country-specific strategies to deliver a programme to make journeys to school safer for children in their countries by the end of 2019. They aim to leverage government funding to introduce road infrastructure such as footpaths and safe crossing places, and to lower and enforce speed limits around schools. Children in Africa are twice as likely to be involved in a road crash than their peers in higher-income countries. They are also much more likely to walk to school alone, alongside busy, high-speed roads that have no protective infrastructure for pedestrians.