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Research conducted by the Accident Research Unit (ARU) at the University of Nottingham since 1988 has influenced decision-making processes for government road safety executives across the globe. A series of studies commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT), in addition to independent research, fed into research policy-making documentation, helping to frame national and international government policy on road safety in the UK, Europe, America, and Australasia. The work has informed publicity materials for professionals and the public with a particular focus on collisions involving young drivers, motorcycle safety, work-related traffic collisions and distractibility due to roadside advertising.
Research undertaken by the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS) at the University of Leeds from 1995 to 2012 has demonstrated that in-vehicle intelligent speed adaption (ISA) - technology to discourage or restrict speeding - reduces drivers' propensity to speed and consequently can dramatically reduce injury and fatality risk. ITS Leeds research has also shown the environmental benefits of these systems and their high acceptance by users and the public. This evidence has led policy-makers at national, European and international levels to advocate ISA adoption. A key impact has been Euro NCAP's decision in 2013 - directly informed by the ITS Leeds research - to explicitly recognise ISA within the safety ratings of new cars. To this end, the ITS Leeds research has informed a significant change to European-wide `quasi-regulation' and, through encouragement to car manufacturers, imposed lasting influence on the safety features of new cars.
Harris, Burgess, Bunce, Mansbridge and King have identified critical facilitators and barriers to widespread daily EV use through their industry-led, problem-based research into drivers' real-world long-term experiences with electric vehicles (EV). Their findings have had impact in 3 distinct areas. First, their work has been used by the UK Government to construct policy to support integration of EVs into the national fleet, as well as informing realistic expectations of successful integration. Second, their work directly influenced development of EVs, accelerated their route to market, and has resulted in specialised support for EV drivers and their vehicles. Third, their work has informed energy suppliers of the support required for drivers to charge their vehicles both at home and also away from home as part of a wider public charging infrastructure.
The impact of the research during the assessment period has been in its contributions to the development of public road safety policy in the UK and in Scotland, particularly affecting young people; the development of ISO standards for safety evaluation; the dissemination of its results to industry and other stakeholders; and public education about the dangers of driver distraction.
The World Health Organization cites road traffic accidents as one of the world's leading health concerns. Research in the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London has investigated the relationship between fundamental aspects of human visual processing across the lifespan and the scenarios in which road accidents are most likely to occur. This research has been at the heart of a national campaign to lower urban speed limits, particularly where child pedestrians are present. It has also led to improved driver safety in commercial organisations, and has contributed to the commercial design of driver assistance systems.
1,754 people were killed on Great Britain's roads in 2012, down from 1,901 in 2011 (a reduction of 8%). Law "Enforcement" is one of the three E's used to try to increase road safety. Professor Sally Cunningham has been recognised by those within road safety circles as the foremost legal academic in this area, assisting the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in developing their road policing policy. In particular, she acted as a "critical friend" to ACPO in drafting a new five-year road policing strategy and she, alongside Sgt Alan Jones, developed one of the three strategic goals of the new strategy: "habitual compliance".
Road traffic collisions are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in children and young people globally (World Health Organisation report on child injury prevention, 2008). Research into child and adolescent road crossing behaviour, led by Dr Karen Pfeffer of the Evolution and Development Research Group at the University of Lincoln, has influenced road safety intervention practice via its inclusion in a series of safety initiatives, programmes and guides for parents, health-care providers, educators and road safety officers, produced by independent organisations internationally since 2008. Dr Pfeffer's research has also had international impact and influence via her appointment as a mentor for the World Health Organization (WHO) Mentors for Violence and Injury Prevention programme.
The Human Factors Group (HFG) has established an evidence base to inform the design, implementation and evaluation of risk communications in promoting safe behaviour. They have delineated a range of design, linguistic and personal variables that influence the effectiveness of risk communications, as well as identifying important demographic and psychological variables that affect personal safety, particularly in relation to driving. This evidence has been used to inform the development of road safety interventions and tools/guidelines for communication in civil emergencies. There has been impact at national and local government level, driving changes in policy and practice. Evidence has been integrated into the road safety policy and interventions of local government, and into government guidance on communicating during civil emergencies. Emergency preparedness documents for public use have been developed and validated. Our success at embedding research evidence into practice has received national and international recognition (e.g. Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, 2012; HM Government Emergency Preparedness Guidance - case study illustrating good practice; and a request for dissemination to World Health Organisation).