Safety of vulnerable road users

Abstract

The planning of traffic and transport do not integrate the safety and mobility needs of the vulnerable road users. Modern and industrialised societies encourage the development of non-motorised traffic with the aim to improve the living conditions, reducing the emissions caused by motorised vehicles. Until safety conditions are suitable for all vulnerable users, it is hard to reach this objective. This paper focuses on the main security problems faced by vulnerable road users, providing an overview of their characteristics and behaviours. The improvement of the vulnerabity situation for vulnerable users lies with a better perception of the accident patterns and causes. The paper provides directions for concrete actions to ensure full interaction between all road users through a better integration of the vulnerable groups in the existing traffic. This kind of procedures consists of measures to improve the safety of vulnerable users due to the risks which they are frequently exposed.