Co-funded by:
7th framework programme of the European Commission, DG MOVE


http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home_en.html

European Road Safety Action Programme RSAP (2001-2010)

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.5 / Subcat-No.5.1-1

General Information

Title

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.5 / Subcat-No.5.1-1

Category

5. Efficiency standards & Flanking measures

Subcategory

5.1 Standards: transport safety

Transport policy measure (TPM)

European Road Safety Action Programme RSAP (2001-2010)

Description of TPM

Of all modes of transport, transport by road is the most dangerous and the most costly in terms of human lives. For this reason, the Road Safety Action Programme (2003-2010) proposes a series of measures such as stepping up checks on road traffic, deploying new road safety technologies, improving road infrastructure and measures to improve users' behaviour.
The RSAP includes 60 measures which are quite diverse, but together cover all aspects of road safety. The measures are aimed at the three well-known areas of road safety:
• Road users: RSAP aims to encourage road users to improve their behaviour, in particular through better compliance with existing legislation, through basic and continuous training and by combating dangerous practices.
• Vehicle technology: RSAP aims for technical harmonisation and support for technological progress should help to make vehicles safer. With respect to vehicle technology a distinction can be made between actions aimed at improving active safety of vehicles and those at passive safety of vehicle.
• Road infrastructure: by defining and disseminating best practices and elimination of black spots, the road infrastructure can be made safer.

Implementation examples

Netherlands [2]

Objectives of TPM

The RSAP has a clear focus on the reduction of road deaths. The RSAP describes concrete actions and proposals for actions by the Commission aimed at realising the target for improving road safety as set in the White Paper (European Transport Policy for 2010: time to decide, 2001), namely halving the number of road deaths by 2010 (compared to 2001 levels). In order to reach this reduction in fatalities, the actions broadly aim at two aspects:
• To reduce the number of accidents;
• To reduce the severity of the accidents in terms of fatalities. [1, p.31]

Choice of transport mode / Multimodality

No change regarding the choice of transport mode (road transport), but regarding the type of road vehicle: the measure encourages the choice of safer vehicles. Modal shift policy as an additional strategy can be effective in freight traffic, to stimulate the use of safer and more environmentally friendly modes of transport.

Origin and/or destination of trip

No change.

Trip frequency

No change.

Choice of route

No change.

Timing (day, hour)

No change.

Occupancy rate / Loading factor

No change.

Energy efficiency / Energy usage

In general the RSAP actions affect the flow speed of the traffic to increase the safety on the road. A slower speed leads to less energy usage.

Main source

[1] Emory's and SWATH (2005):Impact Assessment Road Safety Action Programme. Assessment for mid-term review. DG Energy and transport
[2] COWI (2010): Technical Assistance in support of the Preparation of the European Road Safety Action Programme 2011-2020. Final Report. Lyngby: COWI.
[3] Bosetti, et al (2010): Ex-Post Evaluation of the RSAP. The preparation of the European Road Safety Action Program 2011-2020. Final Report. Leuven: TML.
[4] CROW (2009): Handboek verkeersveiligheid (Road safety manual)

Traffic Impacts

Passengers 

         

Transport operators 

           

Unassigned 

         

Travel or transport time

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Risk of congestion

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Vehicle mileage

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Service and comfort

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Overall impacts on social groups

Implementation phase

Operation phase

Summary / comments concerning the main impacts

- Increased road safety reduces the number of interruptions through accidents and therefore has a positive impact on the risk of congestion; on the other
hand the decreased travel speed leads to an increase of the average travel or transport time [2][3]

Quantification of impacts


Economic Impacts

Passengers 

         

Transport operators 

           

Unassigned 

         

Transport costs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Private income / commercial turn over

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Revenues in the transport sector

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sectoral competitiveness

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spatial competitiveness

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Housing expenditures

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Insurance costs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Health service costs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Public authorities & adm. burdens on businesses

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Public income (e.g.: taxes, charges)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Third countries and international relations

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Overall impacts on social groups

Implementation phase

Operation phase

Summary / comments concerning the main impacts

Health service costs; the reduction of accidents reduces the amount of health service costs.
Innovation/sectoral competitiveness; The focus on developing safer vehicles directly stimulates innovation by car manufacturers and thereby economic growth.
Impacts distinguished by the affected segments:
Households; Households experience a mixed impact from increased safety: Savings of lives and injuries result in lower economic damage (income, expenditures) and psychological damage. A decrease in accidents in general will lead to a decrease in congestion costs. At the other hand, however, the various safety regulations can result in an increase in expenditures (e.g. safer but more expensive cars, compulsory use of helmets, etc).
Road transport companies: Operating costs can increase if the average travel time increases, e.g. due to speed restrictions or longer travel routes (direct impact). Road infrastructure measures aimed at increasing safety may have the effect of a lower travel speed. The adoption of specific routes for (dangerous) cargo vehicles might result in longer travel distances. Operating costs can also reduce due to reduced congestion on the roads (indirect impact).
Government budgets; Increases in government expenditures are to be foreseen due to higher costs for road infrastructure (construction, maintenance). Also extra expenditures are to be expected due to implementation of regulation, enforcement of regulation and awareness campaigns.
Source: [1, p. 59/60]

Quantification of impacts


Social Impacts
Environmental Impacts

Passengers 

         

Transport operators 

           

Unassigned 

         

Air pollutants

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Noise emissions

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Visual quality of the landscape

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Land use

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Climate

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Renewable or non-renewable resources

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Overall impacts on social groups

Implementation phase

Operation phase

Summary / comments concerning the main impacts

In general the RSAP actions affect the flow speed of the traffic to increase the safety on the road. A reduction of accidents further influence positively the congestion level. A reduction in congestion and a lower speed of the traffic have a positive impact on the environment (lower level of emissions, less noise and energy consumption). The actions from the RSAP can also influence the environment through the use of land for the infrastructure or the demand for transport if RSAP actions result in a higher or lower use of land for road infrastructure.

Quantification of impacts


0 Comments

Write a comment for this page

Response to:  Direct response to the article