Interface Between Transport Safety and the Environment Research Group

Background

The environmental impact and safety of the road transport system are often seen as isolated issues. However, the interface between safety and the environment will become increasingly important in the future as environmental issues grow in importance and new approaches to safety promotion are sought.

Traditionally, road safety and environmental concerns have often been viewed as conflicting.  For example, one of the most researched aspects of the interface between the environment and safety is the possibility of negative safety consequences resulting from reducing the size and/or mass of passenger vehicles in order to reduce fuel consumption. 

However, more recently, particularly in Sweden and the Netherlands, many road safety and environmental measures have been shown to be mutually beneficial.  For example, a reduction in speeding will produce a reduction in both crash risk and injury severity, and is also likely to result in a decrease in fuel consumption and emissions. Additionally, any efforts to reduce private vehicle travel for environmental reasons are also likely to reduce levels of road trauma. 

Issues that lie at the interface between safety and the environmental impact of the road transport system include:

• the size and mass of vehicles
• travel speeds
• speeding and aggressive driving
• the safety effects of driving to reduce fuel consumption
• the safety, practicality and accessibility of public transport
• the availability, practicality and safety of motorcycling, bicycling and walking
• exposure reduction measures (e.g. road pricing to reduce car use)
• land use planning (e.g. planning to allow for bike paths and extension of public transport routes)
• environmental effects of traffic management and safety infrastructure (e.g. roundabouts, traffic calming)
• environmental effects of intelligent transport system (ITS) measures

Linking safety and environmental goals may serve to increase support for positive outcomes for both areas.  In addition, concepts and implementation processes used in the environmental movement may have the potential to provide models for road safety planning and implementation.

MUARC Involvement

Given the expected future importance of the relationship between road safety and the environment, MUARC has commenced a program of research in this area. As part of MUARC's internally-funded Strategic Development Program, a group of researchers has been examining The Interface Between Transport Safety and the Environment.

Documents

The documents listed have been completed by the Safety and Environment Research Group at MUARC.

• Road transport safety and the environment: A literature review - an SDP report
• The relationship between fuel economy and safety outcomes - an ATSB report
• Safety and Environment in Vision Zero - Australian Transport Research Forum Conference proceedings, April 2001, Launceston (.pdf [32KB])

"The relationship between fuel economy and safety outcomes", Haworth, N. & Symmons, M., Monash University Accident Research Centre, Report No. 188, 2001

Workshop

The MUARC Safety and Environment Research Group hosted a workshop in Melbourne on 29-30 November, 2001 to examine the issues related to the interface between road safety and the environment and set a research agenda for future work. The presentations can be found on the Workshop webpage.

Updates

Last update: 19 Dec. 01