A shared vision to tackle shared road safety issues
Lisa Spellman
Director, VRU Safety Consortium
SAFE-UP Advisory Board Member
From large nations to small municipalities, awareness of the urgent need to expand sustainable modes and safer means to move people and goods continues to grow. Vulnerable road users (VRUs), such as cyclists (pedal and electric), scooter users (push and electric), pedestrians, and individuals with limited mobility, are increasingly at risk of being hit by moving vehicles. As overall safety outcomes for occupants inside most vehicles have gotten safer, the results for those outside of vehicles have not fared as well. Rates of VRU injury and death have been on the rise worldwide.
According to the International Transport Federation (ITF), “All road user groups have seen a substantial increase in road fatalities in the period 2000-19 except for passenger car occupants. Moped riders are the most affected group, with a 170 percent increase in annual fatalities over this period (29 fatalities in 2000 compared to 79 fatalities in 2019). Similarly, motorcyclists saw 72 percent more fatalities, while pedestrians and cyclists saw 33 and 22 percent more fatalities, respectively. In contrast, fatalities of passenger car occupants dropped by 33% between 2000 and 2019. Since 2010, the United States has recorded a sharp increase in road deaths among vulnerable road users. Between 2010 and 2019, the number of pedestrians killed increased by 44.5%, the number of cyclists by 36% and… motorcyclists by 12%.” Source: International Transport Forum, United States, 2022
The causes leading to injury and death for VRUs across the globe are complex, varied, and contextual.
However, consistent research findings are being published by a wide range of organisations worldwide. The most frequently cited reasons for collisions between VRUs and vehicles are often attributed to infrastructure issues followed by risky driving and cycle/scooter/pedestrian behaviours, including excessive speed, impaired driving, cycling, or walking, due to the use of alcohol or controlled substances, distraction (or lack of attentiveness), collisions in darkness, and other issues.
As a result, 2023 finds many nations from across the globe increasing investment in resources for the research, development, and deployment of a wide range of transportation projects that are not just focused on building more roads for cars and trucks. There is increasing support for transporting people and goods via other means, such as increased use of public transit to modes that roll, including bicycles of all types, including pedal and electric, cargo bikes, scooters, and many forms of smaller electric vehicles with 2-4 wheels, that range from 3-wheeled pedicabs, heavy quadricycle or three-wheeled trikes and 4-wheeled neighbourhood electric vehicles (NEVs) and low-speed vehicle (LSV), or and I’m sure there are more types and categories out there or soon will be, each bringing their own unique set of problems and benefits.
The good news is that there are numerous organisations and initiatives across the globe underway and planned with a common goal of improving safety for all shared road users. It is encouraging to see the ongoing commitment and growth to improving the safety of those that walk, ride, or roll along our global shared roadways. It is important to note that multiple strategies are needed to meet the unique circumstances to reduce (or ideally eliminate) collisions. The challenge is a puzzle that requires consistent collaboration, trust, and a shared vision to move forward together.
Below is a very brief listing of a few successful initiatives and organisations with global reach working to address shared road safety.
United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): In the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Agenda, 17 global goals demonstrate the need for a systemic approach to the world’s interconnected challenges and opportunities. SDGs were created to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all…as they seek to protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere.” Achieving more sustainable and safer modes of transportation to move people and goods is woven throughout the goals. The SDGs are important and helpful because they capture the more prominent global story and provide a point of focus and ideas upon which nations around the world can build.
Vision Zero Network: Another noteworthy global initiative and piece of the puzzle is the Vision Zero Network, which started in Europe in the 1990s and now makes an impact worldwide. “The Vision Zero Network is a collaborative, non-profit campaign helping communities set and reach the goal of Vision Zero — eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries among all road users — while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility.” The Vision Zero Network is important because it went big, declaring a no-nonsense goal of Zero traffic deaths. A momentous challenge, but unless such a big vision is expressed, it can be difficult to reach big outcomes.
ERTICO-ITS Europe: ERTICO-ITS Europe is another organisation that does a terrific job of bringing together a large and vital mix of public-private organisations. If we stay with the puzzle analogy, ERTICO-ITS addresses the Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (ITS) pieces of our virtual puzzle, which are a lot of core pieces! The ERTICO-ITS focus includes Connected, Cooperative & Automated Mobility; Clean & Eco-Mobility; Urban Mobility; Transport & Logistics; cross-sectoral projects, and more.
SAFE-UP: The SAFE-UP project has a unique and important approach to addressing road safety challenges that are relevant today and are equally forward-looking. Technology and the economic markets are changing faster than ever, so the SAFE-UP mission to research, document, and provide keen insight in tandem with new mobility is a creative and necessary approach.
Each day brings a new challenge, but it also brings opportunity. There is so much vital work to be accomplished. My organisation, the Vulnerable Road User Safety Consortium™ (VRUSC), is pleased to share a common vision and mission with these and many other organisations committed to improving shared road user safety.
Lisa Spellman is the director of the Vulnerable Road User Safety Consortium™ (VRUSC), which convenes a cross-sector of global vehicle and micromobility (pedal bikes, ebikes, scooters) OEMs, technology developers, government, municipalities, academia, and more. The VRUSC is a neutral forum committed to solutions that improve safety for all road users. The VRUSC is focused on industry-level technology approaches to facilitate identifying, developing, and deploying best practices and standards that, when widely used, will help reduce collisions between vehicles and VRUs. To learn more, please visit: https://vrusc.sae-itc.org/
