Sustainable Safety
The Dutch approach to road safety, designing infrastructure that accounts for human error and makes dangerous behaviour physically difficult.
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Functionality (of roads)
Roads should have a clear function—either for through traffic or local access. Mixing functions creates confusion and danger.
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Homogeneity (of mass, speed and direction of road users)
When different road users must share space, minimise differences in mass, speed, and direction to reduce crash severity.
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Predictability (of road course and road user behaviour by a recognizable road design)
Road design should be so consistent that users instantly understand what to expect. The road itself communicates the rules.
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Forgivingness (of both the road/street environment and the road users)
Humans make errors. Roads should be designed so mistakes don’t automatically lead to crashes and injuries.
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State awareness (by the road user)
Road users must be able to assess their own capabilities and the speeds of others. Design and education can support this.