Achieving a reduction in the number and severity of crashes requires a number of strategies, procedures, and activities in place to reduce the occurrence of constant accidents or avoid them from happening. This strategy allows for measures to be performed in an attempt to save lives, avoid injury, diminish the severity of harm, avoid property damage, lower therapy and compensation expenses, and limit the loss of morale and productive time.1 Vehicles, vulnerable road users, animals, and other structures influence our roadways, and their many interactions may cause accidents.2
Most road users are fairly aware of the basic safety precautions and laws that apply while using the roads; however, accidents and wrecks only occur due to road users’ negligence.3 Regardless of the circumstance, this strategy strives to provide appropriate traffic guidance and control technologies to direct road users and guarantee the secure flow of vehicles.4 The commitment and coordination of management, safety programs, safety culture, and responsibility are necessary to implement this strategy.1
How it Helps
Driver Education & Road Safety Campaigns:
Programs for driver education should be promoted. These programs should emphasize equipping drivers with the fundamental knowledge and abilities necessary for safe driving. The program should teach safe driving techniques, including risk assessment and defensive driving.7 Road safety campaigns should be created and use planned communications utilizing specific media channels to educate the public and shift attitudes toward improving road safety. Additionally, the efforts should raise awareness or persuade individuals to stop engaging in risky behaviors in favor of safe ones by educating them about new or little-known traffic laws.8
Traffic Law Enforcement:
A comprehensive road safety program must cover the enforcement of traffic laws. By enforcing these regulations, drivers would be guided to adhere to road safety practices, including not using their cell phones while driving, wearing seatbelts, and adhering to speed restrictions. Additionally, drivers who disregard these restrictions should face the legal consequences.9
Challenges:
Unfortunately, some drivers will still engage in risky behavior, including tailgating and speeding, and purposefully break safety laws. They believe that since they are safe drivers, accidents won’t happen to them. Thousands of near-miss accidents occur daily, and when they do, they pose a major challenge that often results in the loss of innocent lives. Additionally, road-related issues such as potholes, broken signals, improperly constructed roads, and improper road signage that can cause accidents.
Examples
1) Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA)
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) is a government organization in charge of investigating transportation-related incidents in Norway. This organization’s primary goal is to look at variables that could be important in preventing accidents and significant events. NSIA looks at significant occurrences in the defense industry, rail, marine, selected traffic, and aviation accidents and incidents. Finding the root causes and enhancing safety are the goals of all investigations.
https://havarikommisjonen.no/Om-oss
2) Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization that aims to reduce motor vehicle crash-related fatalities, incidents, and property damage through investigation, assessment, and education of the public, decision-makers, and safety experts. The IIHS conducts research and generates rankings for well-known passenger cars and other consumer goods, such as car booster seats for children. They also regularly research traffic laws and road designs and assist in the promotion of policy choices.