Session 4

For many years, traffic accidents have been a major threat to welfare in urban areas and many different solutions have been developed. One approach has been to make cars heavier, larger with more passive restraint systems which protect the occupants, and to construct barriers to prevent vehicles from coming into contact with pedestrians. However these methods do not necessarily benefit unprotected road users and pedestrians, so other approaches rely on reduced traffic levels, with smaller, lighter and controlled vehicles, operating at lower speeds, in urban areas where pedestrians have priority.

Which measures will be beneficial to unprotected road users and pedestrians? How can effective accidents countermeasures and the needs relating to mobility for the disabled be co-optimized? Which speeds can be allowed? Under which conditions? What about "pedestrians on wheels"? How can early warning and guidance systems help? How can efficient emergency aids and proper victim care be secured?

Topics

• Review of urban crashes in USA and potential countermeasures.
• Accident epidemiology, automotive safety and developments in products and traffic.
• Accident epidemiology and traffic safety in less wealthy cities.
• Transport and traffic injuries and cost-benefit methodology for optimizing efforts.
• Shock and trauma emergency services and systems for saving lives.
• Costs to society as a result of traffic accident injuries.