Background and Scope
The objective of the 4th Safer Roads Conference will be to promote the efficient use of engineering knowledge to reduce highway accident rates with the theme ‘Saving lives through safer roads is no accident’.
The ever-changing issues of increasing traffic flows and types of vehicles place more pressure on existing materials and practices. Climate change is also having an impact, as extreme events are occurring more frequently and increasing risk.
Many agencies now recognise skid resistance is an important factor, among other surface characteristics, which influence accident rates.
The UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, launched in May 2011, also emphasises an aspect not normally included in meetings on road safety – the road surface.
Organisations face the challenge of introducing policies to manage the skid resistance and other surface characteristics. This may require a complete change in thinking.
Materials are continually being developed to manage these changes and enable new standards to be met. This encourages agencies and consultants to become more innovative to achieve best value in road and runway safety maintenance and practices.
Agencies are also using the results of studies, linking driver behaviour and perception with the road environment to produce innovative ways to reduce accident rates and these changes need to use the appropriate surface materials.
The 4th Conference will provide a platform to discuss the latest developments in the range of techniques being applied to improve safety. Those who should attend include:
- asset managers
- practicing engineers
- safety engineers/auditors
- crash investigators
- equipment suppliers
- survey contractors
- materials suppliers
- surface friction experts
- maintenance contractors
- researchers
The 2014 conference will also provide an ideal forum for the discussion of different interests by network stakeholders:
- cyclists, horse-riders and pedestrians
- motorists
- the police and accident investigation teams
- barristers and solicitors
- motoring organisations
- highway authorities
