High Risk Groups in Road Traffic

One of ten major research and development projects conducted by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration

Duration: 2007 - 2010

Background
The road death risk is relatively low in Norway. One reason for this is that most road users behave well in traffic. Most drivers use seat belts, few are intoxicated and most drivers respect speed limits, or break them only marginally.

On the other hand, when we study severe road accidents, there is an over-representation of drivers who drive too fast, do not use seat belts, or who drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Many accidents are also linked to the health situation of the road users.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has a vision zero, meaning a vision of no deaths and no serious injuries caused by road traffic accidents.

In the light of vision zero we shall of course continue to work for better safety on the roads. In addition to the efforts to improve both roads and vehicles, we must continue to influence road users to act more safely. The challenge is to reach those population groups who are at highest risk: those who drive too fast, who do not use seat belts, who drive under the influence of drugs, and all those who generally behave unsafely in traffic.

The most significant questions then are: Do we know enough about these groups? Do we know who they are and how to reach them?

Objectives
This project is an attempt to learn more about a number of such high risk groups. In that respect we have identified a number of groups that will be the subject of further studies. These are:

• Young drivers, especially men
• Old drivers
• Motor cyclists
• Intoxicated drivers
• Immigrants

Programme organisation and transport policy context
The project will run for four years and initially we have identified five tasks. These are:

• Identification of sub-groups at particularly high risk
• Exposure and risk for high risk groups
• Risk development for young  drivers
• Accident risk of immigrants
• Accident involvement of the elderly

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mr. Richard Muskaug
Norwegian Public Roads Administration
Postboks 8142 Dep
N-0033 Oslo
Norway
Email:  richard.muskaug@vegvesen.no