WP 4 – Independent Accident Investigation
D4.1 Bibliographical analysis
This deliverable takes a look at accident investigation in aviation, maritime, rail and road transport modes. The issue was considered from the point of view the legal framework at all levels, as well as from the point of view of the investigation bodies in some EU countries, namely Germany, France, Italy, Finland and UK. At EU level there is a legal framework for accident or safety investigation in all public transport modes and the European regulations have already or will shortly be translated into national laws. This legal framework sets accident or safety investigation as separate from any judicial enquiry and gives the investigating body, the investigation and the investigators a clear legal status. This status is generally referred to as independent. At national level only some countries have a legal framework for investigation of road traffic accidents. The majority of European road accident investigation bodies in the above-mentioned member states are therefore not independent.
Bibliographical Analysis
D4.2 Database transparency
In EU 97% of all transport fatalities occur in the road sector. Road unsafety costs amount to €250 billion, which means that 97% of all socio-economic costs for transport accidents are made in road transport. In spite of this, and as seen in the previous deliverable D4.1, accident investigation in road transport does not have the same kind of legal status as accident investigation in other transport modes. This is a result of dissimilarities between transport modes. These dissimilarities also mean that the issue of independence generally does not have the same acuteness for road accident investigation as it has for accident investigation in other transport modes. While a clearer legal status would certainly be beneficial to it, the transparency of the investigation processes and their results (e.g. databases) is of greater immediate importance than the independence of the investigation body, investigation and investigators. Transparency means that it is possible to assess the limitations and advantages of investigation processes and the quality of any subsequent data, whatever the use - research, policy, safety enhancement – it is put to. Therefore, transparency is a key element in the formulation of well thought-out conclusions.
Database Transparency
D4.3 Independent Accident Investigation
There is a range of accident investigation procedures and protocols in place across Europe for investigating road accidents. However, as countries work towards meeting both their own road safety targets and those set by the European Commission, it may be that these existing investigations are no longer entirely suited to facilitating the decision making processes of road safety policy-makers or practitioners. Current practices for dealing with road accidents are quite different from those for aviation, rail and maritime accidents, as is the legislative framework regarding such investigations. Currently no comparable requirements or clearly formulated objectives exist for the organisation of transparent and independent road accident investigation.
Draft Recommendations for Transparent and Independent Accident Investigation
Work package 4 held a workshop on 27th March 2007 in Brussels to discuss D4.3, Draft Recommendations for Transparent and Independent Road Accident Investigation, with stakeholders from 19 European countries. The feedback gained from this workshop will be used to develop the 'final' recommendations. A workshop report has been published.
The workshop presentations can be downloaded in PDF format below.
Workshop Programme
Towards a coordinated pan-European road accident investigation activities by Heikki Jahi
Institutional issues by Kalle Parkkari
Operations by Rachel Elliman
Accident Data Protection and Management
Reports, Safety Recommendations and Dissemination of Data by Helen Fagerlind
Next Steps
Independent In-depth Road Accident Investigation in the EU
European Association for Accident Research and Analysis by Michael Weber
Independent and Transparent Accident Investigation Recommendations – A point of view from the industry by Yves Page
Presentation at Workshop on Independent and Transparent Accident Investigation by Lars Bergfalk
Building the European Road Safety Observatory by Pete Thomas
D4.4 Workshop report
SafetyNet Work Package 4 (WP4) organised a workshop in Brussels March, 27th 2007. The aim of this workshop was to consult a variety of road safety stakeholders on the appropriateness and necessity of WP4 Draft Recommendations (SafetyNet 2006b), applicable to and aiming to assure the independence and transparency of road accident investigations and the subsequent investigation data.
Workshop report
D4.5 Recommendations for Transparent and Independent Road Accident Investigation
D4.5, Recommendations for Transparent and Independent Road Accident Investigation, present the conclusions of SafetyNet WP4. They promote and establish the requirements for conducting transparent and independent road accident investigations in all Member States according to a common European investigation methodology. Such investigations would address the need to have detailed, public, transparent and independent road accident data available at European level. The recommendations specifically address the safety oriented investigation of road accidents, which aims ultimately to feed policy making. These Recommendations should be viewed as a first step for future projects aiming to implement a European road accident investigation programme and working towards a common European accident investigation methodology. The recommendations detailed in D4.5 replace the Draft Recommendations described in D4.3.
Recommendations for Transparent and Independent Road Accident Investigation
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