The Safe System Approach
The Safe System approach considers the human factors in the road system, recognising that humans make mistakes and the human body can withstand only limited forces. A Safe System approach considers how roads and roadsides can be made more forgiving of human error, looks at how vehicles can contribute to saving lives and reducing harm, and ensures that travel speeds are appropriate for the roads and for all who use them. Such an approach is not only about reducing the likelihood of crashes, but also about reducing their severity when they do occur. In particular, it aims to reduce the potential for fatalities and serious injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Safe System?
The Safe System philosophy brings a public health focus to road safety whereby efforts aim for harm minimisation. At the centre of this is human fallibility and the fact that errors can lead to unintentional death and injury. Efficient vehicle movement should not be at the expense of human wellbeing.
What are the four (4) key principals that form the basis of the Safe System philosophy?
There are four key principles that form the basis of the Safe System philosophy:
- People make mistakes that can lead to road crashes.
- The human body has a limited physical ability to tolerate crash forces before harm occurs.
- A shared responsibility exists amongst those who plan, design, build, manage and use roads and vehicles and those who provide post-crash care to prevent crashes resulting in serious injury or death.
- All parts of the system must be strengthened to multiply their effects; so that if one part fails, road users are still protected.
What are the pillars of the Safe System?
The four pillars of the Safe System are:
- Safe roads.
- Safe speed.
- Safe vehicles.
- Safe people.
How do safety barriers contribute to a Safe System?
Safety barriers installed in the median prevent vehicles travelling in opposing directions from colliding head-on, and prevent loss-of-control crashes where a vehicle crosses the centreline. Safety barriers installed on the roadside or verge prevent loss-of-control collisions into objects on the roadside.
What is a continuous safety barrier?
Safety barriers installed in the median prevent vehicles travelling in opposing directions from colliding head-on, and prevent loss-of-control crashes where a vehicle crosses the centreline. Safety barriers installed on the roadside or verge prevent loss-of-control collisions into objects on the roadside.
What considerations for motorcyclists does Safe Direction adopt in its design of RamShield guardrail barriers?
RamShield w-beam and thrie-beam guardrail barriers developed by Safe Direction adopt the following design considerations:
- All RamShield guardrail barriers are compatible with BikerShield Motorcycle Protection Rail System, which shields the guardrail posts for a sliding, dismounted motorcycle rider.
- The w-beam or thrie-beam rail element is positioned above the top of the supporting posts shielding a potential snag point.
- The supporting guardrail posts feature rounded edges and corners.
- Plastic caps may be secured to the top of the guardrail posts.
What is a Safe System Audit?
Safe System audits involve applying Safe System principles while seeking to ensure the transport network will operate as safely as practicable by eliminating fatal and serious injury crash potential. The objective is to identify opportunities for improved energy management for all people.
Why is speed management important for a Safe System?
The appropriate management of speed is an integral part of the Safe System approach to road safety. A number of studies have shown the relationship between speed, crash likelihood and severity, with increases in speed increasing both the likelihood of a casualty crash occurring and the severity of injury to the crash participants.
What are the risks to distracted pedestrians?
Up to 40% of pedestrians may be distracted by mobile phones when crossing the road. The likelihood of distracted crossing is greater at signalised intersections. Pedestrians distracted by mobile phones walk more slowly, change directions more often, acknowledge others less, look left and right less, are less likely to look at traffic before starting to cross, miss more safe opportunities to cross, take longer to initiate crossing, are more likely to cross unsafely into oncoming traffic, spend more time looking away from the road, and make more errors than pedestrians who are not distracted.
What is shared responsibility?
Shared responsibility recognises that road safety is a shared responsibility. This involves the combined efforts of road designers, policymakers, vehicle manufacturers, and road users.
