Unclassified DSTI/DOT/RTR/RS7(98)1/FINAL Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Economiques OLIS : 06-Aug-1998 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Dist. : 07-Aug-1998 __________________________________________________________________________________________ English text only Unclassified DSTI/DOT/RTR/RS7(98)1/FINAL DIRECTORATE FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY PROGRAMME OF CO-OPERATION IN THE FIELD OF RESEARCH ON ROAD TRANSPORT AND INTERMODAL LINKAGES Scientific Expert Group on the Safety of Vulnerable Road Users (RS7) SAFETY OF VULNERABLE ROAD USERS English text English only 68074 Document complet disponible sur OLIS dans son format d'origine Complete document available on OLIS in its original format DSTI/DOT/RTR/RS7(98)1/FINAL Copyright OECD, 1998 Applications for permission to reproduce or translate all or part of this material should be made to: Head of Publications Services, OECD, 2 rue André-Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France 2 DSTI/DOT/RTR/RS7(98)1/FINAL FOREWORD The Programme centres on road and road transport research, while taking into account the impacts of intermodal aspects on the road transport system as a whole. It is geared towards a technico- economic approach to solving key road transport issues identified by Member countries. The Programme has two main fields of activity: • international research and policy assessments of road and road transport issues to provide scientific support for decisions by Member governments and international governmental organisations; • technology transfer and information exchange through two databases -- the International Road Research Documentation (IRRD) scheme and the International Road Traffic and Accident Database (IRTAD). Its mission is to: • enhance innovative research through international co-operation and networking; • undertake joint policy analyses and prepare technology reviews of critical road transport issues; • promote the exchange of scientific and technical information in the transport sector and contribute to road technology transfer in OECD Member and non-member countries. The scientific and technical activities concern: • infrastructure research; • road traffic and intermodal transport; • environment/transport interactions; • traffic safety research; • strategic research planning. 3 DSTI/DOT/RTR/RS7(98)1/FINAL ABSTRACT IRRD No. 895623 This report presents a review of the current safety situation of vulnerable road users in OECD Member countries. Industrialised societies are aware of the environmental problems generated by motorised traffic in cities and encourage the development of non-motorised traffic in order to improve living conditions for both road users and urban residents. This aim cannot be reached unless safety conditions cease to be a deterrent to walking and cycling. The study was started in 1995 by a Scientific Expert Group of the OECD Road Transport Research Programme. Based on a problem-oriented approach, the report sets the main safety problems faced by vulnerable road users taking full account of their social, regulatory and physical environments. It provides an overview of their mobility patterns and accident characteristics based on available travel surveys and national statistics. The challenges to improve the safety situation of vulnerable road users lie with a better understanding of their accident patterns. To this end more detailed research analyses are used to identify well adapted accident countermeasures. The review of current experience in policies aiming at the protection of vulnerable road users takes into account recent evaluation results of some safety measures which although not entirely new, tend to get more and more widely used. Problems that still call for adequate remedial solutions are the basis for exploring prospective measures. The report consists of the following chapters: Chapter I -- Introduction; Chapter II -- Characteristics and environment of vulnerable road users; Chapter III -- Mobility of vulnerable road users; Chapter IV -- Safety of vulnerable road users: an overview; Chapter V -- Identification of accident factors; Chapter VI -- Non-infrastructural safety measures; Chapter VII -- Infrastructural safety measures; Chapter VIII -- Implementation requirements; Chapter IX -- Conclusions, policy recommendations and research needs. A Glossary is provided in Annex A and a summary of the travel surveys used to identify mobility patterns is presented in Annex B. The report provides directions for concrete actions to ensure full interaction between the various road users’ groups through a better integration of the vulnerable groups in the existing traffic and transport system. Field classification: Accidents and the human factor Accidents and the road Field codes: 83, 82 Key words: safety, pedestrian, cyclist, mobility, accident prevention, accident rate, education, publicity, junction, cycle track, old people, disabled person, behaviour, statistics, policy, OECD, danger, segregation (traffic, pedestrian) 4 DSTI/DOT/RTR/RS7(98)1/FINAL TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD.................................................................................................................................................. 3 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER I -- INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 9 I.1. Who are “vulnerable road users”?........................................................................................................9 I.2. Aims of the Group .............................................................................................................................. 10 I.3. Background......................................................................................................................................... 11 I.3.1. Historical background.................................................................................................................. 11 I.3.2. OECD research reviews............................................................................................................... 13 I.4. Method of analysis ............................................................................................................................. 14 I.5. Content of the report........................................................................................................................... 15 I.6. Literature ............................................................................................................................................ 16 CHAPTER II -- CHARACTERISTICS AND ENVIRONMENT OF VULNERABLE ROAD USERS.. 19 II.1. Diversity of vulnerable road users .................................................................................................... 19 II.1.1. Pedestrians.................................................................................................................................. 19 II.1.2. Cyclists ....................................................................................................................................... 19 II.1.3. Specially Vulnerable Groups...................................................................................................... 20 II.1.4. Other special groups ................................................................................................................... 21 II.2. Regulatory environment.................................................................................................................... 21 II.2.1. Pedestrians.................................................................................................................................. 22 II.2.2. Provisions for particular pedestrian groups ................................................................................ 23 II.2.3. Cyclists ....................................................................................................................................... 25 II.2.4. Law implementation in practice ................................................................................................. 27 II.3. Behavioural patterns on the road ...................................................................................................... 28 II.3.1. Pedestrians.................................................................................................................................. 28 II.3.2. Cyclists ....................................................................................................................................... 29 II.4. Physical environment ........................................................................................................................ 30 II.4.1. General conditions of the physical environment of vulnerable road users ................................ 30 II.4.2. Design requirements for vulnerable road users .......................................................................... 32 II.5. Social environment............................................................................................................................ 33 II.5.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 33 II.5.2. Driver training ...........................................................................................................................