The new road safety concept consists of two main aspects: a new software-controlled management system that allows for preventive actions to increase road safety, and new planning elements for an innovative process in organising road safety.
In order to develop and implement the new safety concept, as a first step, it was necessary to conduct a comprehensive inventory and an in-depth analysis of the road safety situation in the area targeted. To do so, the so-called ‘road safety hotspots’ were identified in two ways:
- A scientific analysis of the road safety in the living labs based on expert knowledge (subcontract) and existing traffic accident data
- An in-depth analysis of the road safety in the living labs in cooperation with local stakeholders, especially with local neighbourhood associations and local police representatives
The results are being used to define a set of road safety objectives to be realised in the target area.
As a second step, the objectives resulting from the safety audit are being used to develop the road safety management system. The system collects and analyses geo-referenced accident data of the past five years and links it to data of traffic models and other sources; for example, infrastructure data. Combined with a safety software tool, the findings can be used to forecast potential accident situations. The municipal urban and traffic planning authorities can then cooperate with the police in order to develop preventive measures that significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents. The management system requires high data quality. Therefore, continuous monitoring and evaluation to control the development of the road safety situation in the living labs, and realisation of objectives, is foreseen.
Regarding the second aspect of the measure – the new planning elements for an innovative process in organising road safety – it is planned to make road safety management a cross-sectional task for all stakeholders involved in planning and infrastructure projects. With the help of the management system, planners will already be able to make a prognosis of their road safety impact during the planning phase of new development projects and have the option to adapt their plans to promote better road safety.