A methodology for developing a composite road safety performance index for cross-coountry comparison

In this research, countries are compared in terms of road safety. Hence, the complex and multidisciplinary concept of road safety is translated into quantifiable indicators. Up to now, country comparisons were mainly based on registered accident data (i.e., final outcome information). However, we want to gain insight into the main underlying road safety risk aspects. That way, appropriate measures able to tackle the main risk aspects can be selected before they result in an increased number of accidents and casualties. For that reason, road safety performance indicators situated at the intermediate outcome level are studied here. In particular, starting from seven main risk domains identified at the European level, indicators related to alcohol and drugs, speed, protective systems, daytime running lights, vehicle, roads and trauma management are considered. In order to compare countries on their overall road safety performance we focus on the combination of indicators into a composite index. One of the advantages of an index over a set of individual indicators is the ability to present a multitude of information in one overall score thereby facilitating benchmarking and communication. Contrary to other research fields, very limited research effort has been put in the creation of a road safety index. The main objective of this manuscript is to develop a scientifically sound and appropriate methodology for the creation of a composite road safety performance index that can be used for the monitoring and comparison of road safety performance among countries. The different methodological aspects involved in the index construction process are described in terms of theory and illustrated using a real road safety indicator data set. Based on the index score – taking the performance on several road safety risk aspects into account rather than solely the number of road fatalities – valuable insight is gained into the relative road safety performance of a set of European countries. After introducing the concept of indicators and the road safety problem, this manuscript outlines the different methodological steps involved in the index process and successively discusses each step in detail.

Jaar van publicatie:2009

Toegankelijkheid:Open