A new approach to road safety in Slovakia

Abstract

The road traffic accident rate represents an important indicator of road condition level (structural and technical) as well as traffic conditions (traffic organization) influencing the level of fulfilment of traffic demand of the society. Therefore, the traffic accident rate is an important criterion in planning, building, rehabilitation, and maintenance of road network. The degree of motorisation is constantly increasing. Except undoubted advantages it causes a great growth of traffic volume of road network and a constantly increasing demand on traffic and its safety. The road safety is not only an important traffic and social issue, but also an economic one. The traffic accident rate is connected to heavy material damages, permanent bodily injuries and very often irreparable casualties. Therefore, special attention is being paid to the road safety and the influence of its particular factors all over the world and of course in the European Union. By joining the European Union we are committed to achieve standards in all areas that are comparable with European developed countries. In our paper we would like to analyse the road traffic accident rate in Slovakia and to point out new approaches to road safety. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.