28 september 2011	The summary report of the Swedish road safety and the traffic safe society.
”Vision Zero – A safe road traffic concept.”   Many road-users today have a very low degree of awareness when it comes to risks and dangers.
	The Swedish parliament’s goal, from 1997 was not achieved. Therefore a new goal was set for 2020. To be able to reach the goal this time thorough changes to increase road safety and diminish risk-taking on our roads must be implemented. In order to be able to achieve this goal, Vision Zero it is vital that current and future regulations are accepted more widely among road-users. In addition one has to make demands and actively work for that all learner drivers get both theoretical and practical driving instruction which enables them to handle the risk situations that can arise in the increasingly complex traffic.
Already in pre-school..	Already in pre-school, special traffic safety councils governed by the local traffic safety council should be set up. Both teachers, parents and children should be part of these councils. They should all work together which would result in an increased number of concrete proposals for improvements that could be handed over to the local traffic safety council for appropriate measures. Thereby we will create an early and continuous influence on attitudes amongst the younger generation. The engagement and involvement of the local authorities should also increase as the proposals are already approved amongst the people in the area.
Basic traffic education..	Compulsory basic traffic education is a good investment. This education should start already in preschool and continue throughout the Swedish nine-year compulsory school and high school. The gains in terms of road safety are obvious regardless of whether the person in question intends to get a driving licence or not. The education system must be improved and the standards must be raised to save lives. The quality of the education as well as the compulsory parts of the education must be revised. The same standards should apply for all instructors. Private instructors should also meet set standards of theoretical knowledge.
Measures after passing the driving test..	Besides the changes in the education system, attention must be paid to measures after passing the driving test. These measures will contribute to a long-term positive influence on young drivers.
Regular follow-ups of the education..	Regular follow-ups of the education of drivers every tenth year should be introduced without delay in order to create increased safety on our roads. It is very probable that many of the drivers today have deficient or incorrect theoretical knowledge. There are many reasons for this
Two reasons..	One of them is of course that many persons who took their own driving licence when theoretical training was more or less non-existent. The other one is that many drivers have a lack of the risk awareness which is necessary in the traffic society of today.
It is obvious what results it will have..	It is obvious what results it will have if such persons teach someone else to drive, when their own risk awareness is low. The ability to be able to communicate risk awareness to the learner driver must be minimal.
Zero limit on road..	Total abstinence from alcohol consumption for drivers is another prerequisite for reaching the ”Vision Zero.” This ought to go without saying as we often find ourselves in situations where we take decisions that not only concern our own life but also that of others. In plain text we need to introduce a zero limit as soon as possible in order to come closer to our objective of "Vision Zero."
technical improvements of our vehicles..	Relevant technical improvements of our vehicles should continue as before. But take into account that the technology is liable to generate offsetting action by drivers.
Accident investigations..	Accident investigations have in recent years been regarded as an important tool, which can result in measures which increase traffic safety. The traffic safety work has however, mainly been concentrated on passive safety i.e. measures which do not influence the probability of the accident occurring, but reduce the extent of the damage. What is missing in this context is the investigation of the reasons for the accident occurring such as the person’s previous record of accidents, experience, state of mind, education etc. what happens immediately prior to the collision.
The traffic networks and systems..	The ongoing work to improve the traffic networks and systems must be continued. Examples of measures: 2 to 1 road and motorways, clearing of areas next to the road, earlier maintenance of road markings.
How should we act..	Together we must create a traffic culture that can be passed on to the next generation in a continuous process. This process has to be built on mutual consideration, personal responsibility and judgement. It is not acceptable that any human being should be killed or injured due to fellow road-users’ lack of consideration or lack of will to follow traffic regulations or due to questionable decisions from our decision-makers. Svensk Trafiksäkerhet Ernst Donlemar
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