ExpectedOutcome:
Research is expected to contribute to all the following outcomes:
- Transport systems that are resilient, i.e. prepared for disruptive changes of different kinds, and thereby supporting continuously improved traffic safety.
- Resilience to unexpected events (pandemics, natural disasters, political decisions, conflicts, energy and fuel disruptions, raw materials and component supply vulnerabilities etc.) as an integrated principle in the design and development of future transport systems.
- Increased understanding how sudden changes in the availability of transport means e.g. through dramatic weather events or emission induced ban of certain vehicles in a city, affect the safety of transport system users, and the underlying psychological effects for users’ reactions.
Scope:
The importance of a robust transport systems becomes highly evident in times of rapid, changes that are neither planned, scheduled nor predicted. The COVID-19 pandemic has pointed at several issues (e.g. delivery of essential goods, ensuring uninterrupted and safe public transport operations for essential workers etc.) that need to be addressed to secure future resilience of the transport system and to ensure that the level of transport safety is not only maintained, but also meeting more demanding targets. For instance, the decreased use of public transport during the pandemic has to some extent led to increases in both biking and walking, but also an increased use of cars in some parts of the world. At the same time, decreased traveling has meant fewer vehicles on the roads in certain areas, whereas others have seen an increase of delivery vehicles, as home deliveries have surged. Likewise, the current energy market realities have made even more pressing the need of an energy efficient mobility system that could absorb disruptions in the fuel supply chain.
Digital tools/services and new transport means (e.g. urban air mobility and micro mobility), new ways how to use the infrastructure (e.g. even more shared spaces with different types of vehicles, both highly automated and manually controlled) in a more energy efficient manner and new behaviour should be included in the research.
In order to provide safe and resilient transport for all, many aspects are expected to be considered in a clearly multidisciplinary approach. Proposed actions are expected to address at least three out of the following aspects:
- Scenarios of disruptive changes that can make a transport system unstable should be identified, the consequences on transport safety be analysed, and solutions to tackle them developed. This includes safety implications of rapid changes / new incentives (sometimes contradictory to previous ones, e.g. regarding the use of public transport in a pandemic situation).
- Analysis of how socio-economic differences may affect the safety of individuals in case of disruptive changes (e.g. individual mobility options are determined by the socio-economic status).
- Study of how the concept of resilience at the system level can be applied and used for the improvement of transport safety.
- Evaluation of the potential and development of recommendations on how to improve transport safety and resilience through suburban planning and future housing developments with their effects on the demand for transport and through the design of transport infrastructure networks.
A definition of resilience in the context of transport systems should be provided, and factors of transport safety and energy efficiency that are essential to take into account should be determined. Moreover, scenarios for disruptive changes should be identified that can make a transport system instable, the consequences on transport safety be analysed, and solutions to tackle them be developed. Hence, a structured method to secure safety as an integrated part in resilient transport systems should be provided.
A solid foundation for this research is the Safe System Approach. It requires the inclusion of relevant expertise in social sciences and humanities (SSH) and will benefit from international cooperation.
