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Influences on decision-making in road safety
Matt Staton1, Jo Barnes2, Andrew Morris2
1Agilysis Limited, 27 Horse Fair, Banbury OX16 0NE, UK; Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK.
Accident; Analysis and Prevention
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Local UK road safety efforts often focus on individuals, not systems. Shifting to system-based approaches like Vision Zero requires collaboration and overcoming barriers like siloed working.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Transportation Safety
- Urban Planning
Background:
- Previous research mapped UK municipal-level road transport actors.
- Understanding actor decision-making is crucial for effective road safety interventions.
- Devolution of responsibility to municipal levels impacts road safety management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore decision-making and relationships among key road safety actors in a UK municipal setting.
- To identify barriers and facilitators for implementing evidence-based road safety practices.
- To assess the potential of system-based approaches, such as Vision Zero, in road safety management.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving interviews with 21 key actors in the road transport industry.
- Analysis of interrelationships, partnerships, and influencing factors on local decision-making.
- Exploration of barriers (public perception, lobbying, silo working) and facilitators (cross-departmental work, financial levers).
Main Results:
- Predominant road safety approach remains person-based, potentially exacerbated by municipal devolution.
- Actor interrelationships and formal partnerships significantly influence local road safety decision-making.
- Evidence-based practice is hindered by public perception, lobbying, and silo working; facilitated by cross-departmental collaboration and financial tools.
Conclusions:
- A shift towards system-based road safety approaches, like Vision Zero/Safe System, is gaining traction due to global political acceptance.
- Developing road safety management capacity and leadership requires addressing actor relationships and overcoming identified barriers.
- Lessons learned from this UK municipal study are relevant for other jurisdictions, particularly low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), seeking to adopt system-based road safety strategies.
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