A Strategic Approach to Transforming Traffic Safety Culture to Reduce Deaths and Injuries

Background: There is agreement that road user behaviour is the most important contributing factor for traffic accidents. It is therefore essential to understand better the causes of accidents and design remedies that can efficiently treat them. The fatality rate per 10,000 people is about 30 times higher in developing countries than in high-income countries These differences, beside other factors, can be explained in terms of different traffic safety cultures. Objective: The general mission of this work was to contribute to traffic safety by gaining an understanding of the differences in traffic culture in countries worldwide. Furthermore, we sought to explore and understand the needs and beliefs concerning traffic safety in different countries worldwide and the implications for the objective traffic safety situation (Traffic Safety Index – TSI) and for the stage of the economic development of the country (Gross Domestic Product – GDP). Methods: A simple questionnaire with three questions focused on beliefs and opinions about traffic safety was used. Altogether, 142 respondents from 36 countries filled in the questionnaire. The data was analysed using both statistical methods and qualitative analysis of the responses. Results: The results indicated major differences in the traffic safety cultures embraced by different countries. In general, two approaches to traffic safety culture can be identified. In the first case, traffic safety culture is viewed as an objective reality which the respondents conceive of as leading to greater safety. The second case involves the emphasis being placed particularly on the elimination of a threat to life and health. Conclusion: People from countries with a poorer traffic safety record tend to underline the importance of traffic safety. No evidence of a relationship between the economic performance of the country (GDP), the traffic safety culture standard, and the Traffic Safety Index was found. Finally, the implications of the results for practice are discussed with a view to the practical implementation of measures to improve traffic safety.

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Safety Culture as an Element of Organisation Culture of Transport Companies

World of Transport and Transportation ◽

10.30932/1992-3252-2019-17-3-234-245 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 234-245

Author(s):

O. V. Efimova ◽

Yu. V. Komarova

Keyword(s):

Organizational Culture ◽

Safety Culture ◽

Traffic Safety ◽

Technology Development ◽

Occupational Injuries ◽

Environmental Safety ◽

Corporate Management ◽

Safety Risks ◽

Complex Process ◽

Management Functions

To perform the basic management functions, a developed organizational culture is required. It is based on a system of common values, beliefs and norms that are formed for all employees of a given organization as a result of a complex process of interacting.The article proposes to consider the «safety culture» (including, for example, traffic safety culture, environmental safety, labor activity safety culture) as an element interconnected with all other elements of organizational culture. This is especially relevant for transport companies, including JSC Russian Railways, where technology development and technological sophistication are progressing rapidly andwhere, for objective reasons related to nature of the activity, the level of occupational injuries is high.Organizational culture is considered in the article, as a set of functional cultures in the field of corporate management, interaction and communication, labor organization, safety culture, and interaction with external clients.JSC Russian Railways uses modern technologies and sophisticated technology in its activities, while there are infrastructural restrictions; all this is a source of safety risks and threats. Therefore, the maturity level of safety culture, as well as its assessment are of great importance both for development of the organizational culture, and for the company.

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