HHigh-Risk Groups and High-Risk Behavior in Road Traffic, 2007

The project aims to find behavioral explanations for the high risk of accidents in road traffic, as a basis for targeted traffic safety measures. In light of the “zero-vision” the focus is on behaviors related to the risk of serious accidents. Drivers are implicated in approx. 85 % of all fatalities, and the main focus will be on this group's risk of interaction with other road users. Among drivers, for instance, both the youngest and the oldest particularly high risk.

The project is based on existing models and theories of road user behaviour. The following themes and issues are covered: - Definition of high-risk groups and high-risk behaviors. - Description of risk groups based on behavioral dimensions. - Assessment of safety measures in the light of new knowledge about risk -related behavior . - Risk Groups and traffic interaction: Is the risk of certain groups particularly associated with the interaction with other high-risk groups ? - The potential for intelligent transportation systems ( ITS) in relation to high-risk behaviors . - Assessment of implications for the design of the road system: What it means to add high-risk groups' limitations as a basis for design of the road system ( signage, markings, road geometry)? Work on SIP have to date included: - Analysis of various road user groups' involvement in fatal accidents last 10 years . - Literature study on risk behavior and risk groups to gain knowledge about the relative risks and exposure - calculation of " population attributable risk " for various risk factors, ERET measure of the theoretical expected accident reduction by eliminating a risk factor. - Analysis of selected risk factors and publication of articles from these analyzes , so far four articles are internationally published.

The present study includes a survey answered by drivers involved in automobile accidents where damage has been reported to insurance companies.