RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKSHOP

Conference Recommendations

Road Safety should be treated as a social issue, our problems cannot be solved by police or transport policies alone – health and education authorities, together with communities, the transport, automotive, oil and insurance industries must be have a statutory responsibility to be involved. Safer vehicles are essential – stringent type approval and regular testing are essential. Roads must be constructed and maintained to internationally established standards.

Strategy

It is essential that a strategy be developed at each level of government, national and local. This strategy must encourage all stakeholders to work together in partnership to achieve clear agreed objectives which include specific casualty reduction and programme implementation targets over a specific time frame.

Legislation is required to define the role of enforcement and must include specific laws to protect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and passengers.

Priority must be given to the wearing of seat belts and helmets, countering speed and the use of alcohol and drugs

Partnership

All programmes must be delivered in partnerships of appropriate stakeholders including police, government departments, local authorities, education institutions, corporates, road engineers and NGOS. Each must include balanced elements of education, enforcement, and engineering including both road and vehicle safety design.

Technology

Cost effective technologies are now readily available to assist in all programmes, these must be embraced. PC based systems for collision investigation and data analysis are most important for the development of counter measures. Roads police need to embrace new technology to support enforcement for example extensive use of automated enforcement devices.

Enforcement

A clearly understood definition of enforcement is essential. All enforcement action must be intelligence led, with cooperation between police and other stakeholders. Collision investigation must be treated with the same vigor as criminal investigation, for example

a breath test should be administered to every driver involved in an injury collision. Enforcement action must be accompanied by education programmes. Penalties should be accompanied by corrective education

Education

As most collisions are caused by human failure, behavioral education programmes are vital in addition to skill-based programmes. Both public and individual education programmes must be delivered to address the needs of the vulnerable road user as well as the violator. Education must support enforcement.

Transfer of Knowledge and Training

Good practice needs to be identified and adapted to suit the local environment. Sound training and retraining schemes must be established to support the implementation of all programmes. Specific programmes need to be developed for police on enforcement including collision investigation and vehicle examination and traffic management.

Evaluation
It is essential that all measures derive from the sound collection and analysis of data. Continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of all programmes is essential.