Safe System Assessments

Safe System is a philosophy for considering the various elements of the transport system forming an environment which eliminates the potential for serious and fatal injury crashes. The Safe System philosophy accepts that road users make mistakes but aims to provide an environment which prevents the road users from suffering serious or fatal injuries as a consequence of mistakes.

RSA has experience undertaking Safe System Assessments, especially for major road infrastructure projects and for initiatives involving vulnerable road users including motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Our Safe System assessments are informed by the Austroads Safe System Assessment Framework. Many of the principles of Safe System assessments overlap with Road Safety Audits, however Safe System is particularly orientated to identifying and treating crashes that could lead to serious or fatal injuries. The crash types include ‘run-of road’, head-on, side-impact and vulnerable road users. As with Road Safety Audits, the risks components include exposure (i.e. traffic volumes), crash likelihood and crash severity.

Explaining Safe System Principles for Road Safety in Australia

Road safety is a critical public health and infrastructure challenge, and in Australia, the Safe System approach has emerged as the cornerstone of efforts to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. This article provides an overview of the Safe System principles and how they guide efforts toward a safer transport network.

What is the Safe System Approach?

The Safe System approach is a holistic framework that aims to ensure no one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes. It recognises that people make mistakes and are vulnerable to the forces experienced in a crash. Unlike traditional road safety models that often place responsibility solely on road users, the Safe System approach emphasises shared responsibility among all stakeholders, including road designers, vehicle manufacturers, policymakers, enforcement agencies, and the community.

The Four Core Principles of the Safe System Approach

Human Vulnerability

The Safe System approach acknowledges the physical limits of the human body. People are vulnerable to serious injury when exposed to high-impact forces, and roads and vehicles must be designed to minimise the consequences of crashes. For example, reducing speed limits in areas with high pedestrian activity or implementing protective barriers on high-speed roads are practical applications of this principle.

Shared Responsibility

Road safety is a collective responsibility. While individual road users must adhere to traffic laws, other stakeholders, such as road authorities and engineers, have an obligation to create an environment that reduces the risk of crashes and mitigates their severity. This principle underscores the importance of collaboration among different sectors to deliver safer outcomes.

Safe Design

Safe System principles emphasise that safety must be embedded in the design of roads, vehicles, and infrastructure. For road design, this means implementing features such as clear lane markings, well-lit intersections, and roundabouts that reduce conflict points. Vehicle design improvements, such as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and crashworthy structures, also play a critical role.

Post-Crash Care

The Safe System approach extends beyond preventing crashes to ensuring effective emergency response and medical care when crashes occur. Rapid access to trauma services and improved incident management systems can significantly reduce the severity of injuries and improve survival rates.

The Pillars of the Safe System Approach

The Safe System approach is often visualised through five interconnected pillars:

Safe Roads and Roadsides: Designing forgiving road environments that reduce crash likelihood and severity.
Safe Speeds: Setting and enforcing speed limits that align with the safety of road infrastructure and human tolerance.
Safe Vehicles: Promoting the uptake of vehicles equipped with the latest safety technologies.
Safe Road Users: Encouraging behaviour change through education, enforcement, and engagement.

Post-Crash Response: Enhancing emergency response systems and rehabilitation support for crash victims.

Why the Safe System Matters for Australia

In Australia, road safety is a pressing concern. With a vast and diverse network of roads, from urban freeways to rural highways, implementing Safe System principles is vital to achieving the goals of the National Road Safety Strategy. By adopting this framework, we can work toward the ambitious target of zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050.

The Safe System approach represents a paradigm shift in road safety, moving from reactive measures to proactive and integrated solutions. By embracing the principles of human vulnerability, shared responsibility, safe design, and post-crash care, we can create a road network that is fundamentally safer for everyone. As Australia continues to innovate and collaborate, achieving the vision of zero road deaths and serious injuries becomes an attainable goal. Together, we can build a safer future.