”Vision Zero” - from concept to action

1. Swedish Road Administration ”Vision Zero”- from conceptto action Per Eriksson Strategic planning & Transport economics Swedish Road Adminstration, Northern Region

2. Swedish Road Administration Presentation • Vision Zero • Mid barriers • The 2+1 concept • Design • Costs • Evaluation and effects • Planning

3. Swedish Road Administration Swedish Road AdministrationSRA • 7 regions • Volume of work: close to 2.5 billion € per year • Main tasks: • - road sector responsibility • - exercise of public authority • - road management • - contracted works

4. Swedish Road Administration Northern Region • Norrbotten and Västerbotten Counties • Total population appr. 510 000 people • Largest cities • - Umeå 105,000 - Luleå 72,000 • State roads 17900 km (~20%) • Volume of work: close to 200 million € • 157 employees • - 62 women - 95 men

5. Swedish Road Administration Goals in transport policy (1) The overall goal of transport policy in accordance with the Swedish Parliament’s decision in 1998: • to ensure a socio-economically efficient transport system that is sustainable in the long term for individuals and the business community throughout the country.

6. Swedish Road Administration Goals in transport policy (2) This goal is divided into six subsidiary goals: • An accessible transport system: The transport system is to be designed so as to meet the basic transport needs of individuals and the business community. • High transport quality: The design and function of the transport system is to permit a high level of transport quality for individuals and the business community. • Positive regional development: The transport system should promote a positive regional development, both by evening out differences in the potential of various parts of the country to develop, and by counteracting the drawbacks of long transport distances.

7. Swedish Road Administration Goals in transport policy (3) This goal is divided into six subsidiary goals: • Safe traffic: The long-term goal for road traffic safety is for nobody to be killed or seriously injured as a result of traffic accidents. The design and operation of the road transport system should be brought into line with the requirements that this goal entails. • A good environment: The design and performance of the transport system should be adapted to the requirements for a good and healthy living environment for everyone, where natural and cultural environments are protected against damage. Good management of land, water, energy and other natural resources is to be promoted. • A gender-equal road transport system: The road transport system is to be designed to fulfil the transport needs of both women and men. Women and men are to be offered an equal opportunity to influence the creation of the transport system, its design and management, and their values are to be equally important.

8. Swedish Road Administration Since 1997 • In October 1997 the Swedish Parliment adopted a ”Vision Zero” approach as a basis for Sweden´s long-term road safety objectives.

9. Swedish Road Administration A safe road traffic concept • It is an image of a desirable future society in which no one would be killed or seriously injured in road traffic.

10. Swedish Road Administration Why ”Vision Zero”? • We can not accept the fact that people are being punished every year by death or lifelong suffering for having made a simple mistake in traffic. • Since people sometimes make mistakes, it is impossible to prevent traffic accidents altogether. However, it is possible to alleviate the consequences of a collision through roads and vehicles becoming safer. Moreover, the risk can be reduced through greater insight into the importance of safe behaviour in traffic.

11. Swedish Road Administration Shared responsibility through ”Vision Zero” • Previously, most of the responsibility for a traffic accident was placed on the individual road user. However, according to ”Vision Zero”, this responsibility is shared by all those who have an effect on, or participate in road traffic: • Politicians who make decisions concerning community planning and traffic issues. • Planners who implement political decisions concerning the shape and designof society and the road transport system. • Road managers, like the Swedish Road Administration and the municipal authorities,that construct and maintain roads. • The police who ensure that traffic rules are followed. • Vehicle manufacturers and dealers. • Organisations that strive to improve road safety in society. • Companies, organisations and private individuals that purchase transport services. • Companies, organisations and private individuals that transport goods and people. • All those who use roads and streets.

12. Swedish Road Administration

13. Swedish Road Administration

14. Swedish Road Administration MID-BARRIERS / CENTRE GUARD RAILS • A centre guard rail prevents head-on collisions, thereby making a rural road of standard width considerably safer. • Appr. 1000 km in 2004 • Goal: 2000 km in 2007 • Test started in 1998 with 6 projects • AADT 4000 - 22000

15. Swedish Road Administration Problem: crossing centre line • Causes front collissions • Tired drivers • Overspeeding • Alcohol & drugs • …………..

16. Swedish Road Administration CENTRE GUARD RAILS 2+1 LANES

17. Swedish Road Administration Design principle 2+1 lanes (13 m) for Swedish vehicle fleet and speeds • sometimes 1+1 or 2+2: bridges, up hill…. • other measures – safer roadside areas, intersections…..

18. Swedish Road Administration Design principle 2+1 lanes (13 m)

19. Swedish Road Administration Signing principles

20. Swedish Road Administration

21. Swedish Road Administration Rescue training

22. Swedish Road Administration Costs • Investment 8 - 30 times cheaper than motorway • 100 – 250 € / meter (existing road) • Cost depends on: • Separation unprotected • Intersections • Coordination with other measures (new pavement…….) possible synergy effects

23. Swedish Road Administration Effects and evaluation

24. Swedish Road Administration Increased maintenance costs Reparation cost vehicles and mid barriers: 4500 and 1000 € / km, year

25. Swedish Road Administration Barrier repair work • “normal” crash 10 poles • sheered off at the pavement • poles and cables still in median • wire rope almost never damaged

26. Swedish Road Administration Maintenance and operation • no unexpected problems • 25-30 % of crashed vehicles needs breakdown lorry • as expected …. barrier crashes frequent • so far average 0.4 per Mill. Vehkm in southern Sweden • 0.6 in Northern • rutting …. some problems • over-wide and super-heavies – needs other roads (detours)

27. Swedish Road Administration Driver attitudes • one month after the first project 1 % satisfied • after one year 60-70 % satisfied • today 85 % satisfied • “you can plan your overtaking ..” • scared for one-lane breakdowns …. • motorcyclists • elderly drivers

28. Swedish Road Administration Results traffic safety - effects

29. Swedish Road Administration Persons killed in road traffic and cars in use in Sweden 1935-2003

30. Swedish Road Administration Persons killed with respect to traffic density in Sweden (killed / cars) 1935-2003

31. YEAR 2004 480 KILLED TREND GOAL YEAR 2007 270 KILLED Swedish Road Administration Persons killed in road traffic in Sweden 1985-2004

32. Swedish Road Administration Persons killed in road traffic in Sweden 1985-2004only single, front collision and overtaking

33. Swedish Road Administration Planning • National road plan (investments) 2004-2015 • Identified projects • 3 year plan, ”bag of money”, competition, CBA • County plans

34. Swedish Road Administration Planned investments 2+1