Research

Traffic Safety in 2025 – Studies in 2013

1. Impacts of traffic management by transport mode

Literature reviews and expert interviews will be used for exploring current knowledge of impacts dealing with means of traffic management. Related investigation methods will be studied as well. In addition to safety, the study includes fluency of traffic and environmental impacts. Examined transport modes will include road, railway and maritime traffic.

2. Evaluation tools for the safety management of road infrastructure

Needs and opportunities for the development of current safety evaluation tools will be investigated in order to fulfil the requirements of the European Directive on Road Infrastructure Safety Management.

3. Current safety management systems of Finnish road transport companies

A survey will explore to what degree the Finnish road transport companies use road safety management systems. The content of these systems will also be investigated. The survey will be conducted jointly with an organisation representing Finnish transport companies.

4. Comprehension of information on the performance of unstudded winter tyres

A survey will investigate how consumers understand alternative information on the performance of unstudded winter tyres on wet, snowy and icy surfaces. The study further aims to assess how this comprehension affects the selection of tyres and thereby safety. In addition, the aim is to interview tyre salespersons in order to assess how they potentially affect the selection of tyres.

5. Concerns vs. actual road safety threats among the public

This study investigates substantial differences between concerns experienced by the public and actual road safety threats. Data include survey results and road accident statistics. The aim is to reinforce road-user information with specific facts on harmful contradictions between concerns and actual threats. 

6. Defects of vehicles not having undergone periodic inspection

This study investigates the defects of vehicles that have not undergone periodic inspections in due time. A selection of such vehicles identified by traffic enforcement will be examined. Based on the results, the size of the safety problem caused by vehicles not having undergone periodic inspections in due time will be assessed. 

7. Improvement of conspicuity of passive level crossings

The study aims to define the most important characteristics of passive level crossings that affect their conspicuity. In addition, conspicuity defects of current level crossings will be investigated and recommendations listed. The main data include photographs and videotapes that show level crossings from the viewpoint of approaching drivers.

Juha Luoma
Research Professor
+358 20 722 4533
juha.luoma@vtt.fi