Road safety situation development in Estonia

1. Road safety situation development in Estonia Harri KUUSKDeputy Director GeneralEstonian Road Administration 2005

2. Harri Kuusk

3. Facts : • 45,000 km2 • 1,36 m inhabitants • 16,400 km national roads • 1,430 km main roads Estonia Harri Kuusk

4. Harri Kuusk

5. Action planning • Organisations involved in actions • Responsibilities and liabilities of several institutions • State level • Local level • Teamwork and co-ordination organisms • Knowledge base about the causes of accidents and possibilities to improve the situation. Harri Kuusk

6. Institutions involved in Road Safety promotion (state level) • Ministry of Economic Affairs & Communications • Road Administration • Estonian Motor Vehicle Registration Centre • Ministry of Education • Ministry of Finances • Estonian Traffic Insurance Foundation • Ministry of Social Affairs • Centre for Health Promotion • Ministry of Internal Affairs • Police Board • Rescue Board Harri Kuusk

7. Institutions involved in Road Safety promotion (state, cont.) • Exploration organisations • Tallinn Technical University • Tartu University • Tallinn Technical High School • IB Stratum • TNS EMOR • Advertising agencies • Media: radio, TV, newspapers, magazins • Corporate enterprises • Building, maintenance, architect & designer’s offices • Non profit institutions Harri Kuusk

8. Co-operation methods • Lawmaking activities • Information sharing • Workgroup meetings and seminars • Meetings for decision makers • Involving of group members into international experience sharing • Participation in local specialist’s training. • Activities planning, financing or participation by know-how. Harri Kuusk

9. Stages of development

10. Stages • 1990 – 1994 reforms and rearrangements • 1995 – 1999 steady period, development • 2000 – 2005 second wave of reforms Harri Kuusk

11. 1990 -1994 • Information gathering and lawmaking • 1991 • speed in urban areas 50 km/h • Compulsory safety belts wearing on pillion (rear seat) • Reorganisation of executive administration • Road safety administration • Estonian Motor Vehicle Registration Centre • Road Safety Board Harri Kuusk

12. 1995 - 1999 • Information gathering and lawmaking • 1995 • Daytime running lights • 1996 • Children restraints • 1997 • Winter (studded) tyres, compulsory from Dec 1 to March 1 Possible from Oct 1 to May 1[from 2002]) Harri Kuusk

13. 1995 – 1999 (cont) • Reorganisation of executive administration • 1995 • Road Administration incorporates • Road (Traffic) safety department. Responsible for traffic education and communication activities. Harri Kuusk

14. 2000 - 2005 • Information gathering and lawmaking • 2001 • Updated Roads Act and Traffic code • Blood alcohol level for drivers 0.2 ‰ • Mobile phone use without hands-free illicit • Reorganisation of executive administration • 2002 • Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications • Regional reform started • 2003 • Traffic control unit re-established by Police Harri Kuusk

15. Trends from 1990 - 2003 Harri Kuusk

16. Killed on the roads 1990 - 2004 Harri Kuusk

17. Road Safety Program Harri Kuusk

18. Road Safety Program development Based • On the surveys, monitoring and analysis of current traffic safety situation. • On the Road Safety Program designed by PHARE in 1997. • On the prognosis of the traffic safety situation for ten years. • On the Finnish Road Safety Program (has taken as example). Harri Kuusk

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20. Road Safety in Estonia Causes of poor road safety level are: • Unsafe road using attitudes of the population. • Deferred National Road Safety Program approval. • Wanting traffic education level in the schools. • Deficient new drivers education. Harri Kuusk

21. Road Safety in Estonia Causes of poor road safety level are:(cont): • Lag of road traffic infrastructure development. • Drivers behaviour habitudes: • Low safety devices usage habitude in the cars (back seat, children restraints). • Excessive speed and risk disregard. • High level of drunk drivers in the traffic. Harri Kuusk

22. Road Safety Program activities Targeted on the following main directions: • Unprotected road users (pedestrians, bicyclists) safety • Children and elderly people safety • Young and inexperienced drivers safety Harri Kuusk

23. Road Safety Program activities • Drunk driving diminishing • Decreasing of consequences of the RTA • Urban traffic safety • Decreasing a number of: • Dark time RTA & • Winter time RTA Harri Kuusk

24. Local safety programs Harri Kuusk

25. Institutions involved in Road Safety promotion (local) • Institution of local governing (government or public office) • County government • Local RA and outside specialists • Police, Fire & Rescue services • Corporate enterprises • Media: radio, newspapers, magazines • Architects, designers, estate agents etc. Harri Kuusk

26. Local planning • Goals establishing • Measures of effectiveness (criteria: no killed pedestrians, no children injured etc.) • Exploration and analysis of local situation. • Resources planning • Local road safety development plan and program writing. Harri Kuusk

27. Recommendations for local planning • Safe environment development • Reduce noise, pollution and increase safety for the residents of different age. • Land use planning • Developing areas for sports and recreation • Health and social services planning • Education and training of population • Road maintenance organisation and supervisory. Harri Kuusk

28. Effective & advantageous traffic organisation • Safety audit • To determine dangerous and problematic places and causes of danger • Solution discussing and effectiveness assessment. • Traffic calming • Pedestrian crossings • Crossings • Car parking • Solutions monitoring and assessment. Harri Kuusk

29. Road Safety Audit • Strongly recommended MEASURE for traffic environment assessment, preceding any planning, reconstruction or regulation exchange on the streets and roads. • Provided by independent specialists or organisation. • Actually this kind of work is not legally regulated in Estonia (only recommendations). Harri Kuusk

30. Safety audit realisation • Initiated by local authorities, state authorities (RA) or any committer. • Realised by specialist or organisation, who has no direct interest in another parts of project. • Results will be discussed with three parts of project and has to be available for public opinion. Harri Kuusk

31. Remarks Harri Kuusk

32. Good things • Small territory and population • Enthusiasm of population • Discerning decisions made at early stages of reforms • Public openness to new knowledge and experience • Embodiment to EU • Public interest to safety issues and problems • Private sector support to safety promotion Harri Kuusk

33. Discerning decisions • Road Safety administration separated from Traffic Police • Independent body implemented in Road Administration structure • Sufficient understanding of Road Safety issues significance at the Ministerial level • Sufficient financing from 1996 Harri Kuusk

34. Co-operation • Development of decision-makers network • All the activities supported by research and developmental work • Local specialist network support • Integration with schools and private activities toward Road Safety education and information dissemination • Good interaction with Police and support of campaign activities by Police enforcement Harri Kuusk

35. Obstacles • Long-drawn-out reforms • Some legislation changes • Mushrooming bureaucracy • Limited human resources Harri Kuusk

36. Examples Harri Kuusk

37. Media campaign Beltup! Harri Kuusk

38. Campaign idea • The main information is “BELT UP!” • The second slogan is “Belt up also on the back seats!” • The third message is “Police will control your seat belt usage” • Police makes a notice and admonition • Police gives you an opportunity to write an essay (2000) • POLICE controls and imposes a fine (2002-2003) Conclusion: • Seat belt usage is simple, improves your safety and the theme will be actual in the future Harri Kuusk

39. Outdoor 2002 Harri Kuusk

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43. Conclusions Harri Kuusk

44. Most importantconclusions • Discerning decisions at early stages • Public interest to safety issues and problems • Private sector support to safety promotion • Sufficient understanding of Road Safety issues significance at the Ministerial level • Sufficient financing from 1996 • Acceptance of Road Safety program by Parliament Harri Kuusk

45. Important conclusions • … that road traffic injuries, like other health and safety problems, can be understood, predicted, and prevented. • Public awareness about RS could be increased by systematic campaign and information dissemination activities • Good relations with journalists and media organisations must be maintained • Public trustworthiness to main safety promoting authority must be undoubted Harri Kuusk

46. conclusions • Road Safety issues need a program based approach • Understanding of RS as broad complex of • Planning, engineering & management • Social, health & psychological • Legal, financial & security Issue for whole society (at the level of state, regional, local government) Harri Kuusk

47. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION Harri Kuusk