“Diversity in Traffic Culture and Unsafe Behavior”

26 November 2020

Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture

George Yannis,Professor NTUA
Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering,
National Technical University of Athens

NTUA Road Safety Observatory
 The NTUA Road Safety Observatory (www.nrso.ntua.gr) is a Center ofResearch and Innovation Excellence in Road Safety, with global
recognition [ranked: 2nd in Europe and 6th worldwide (AAP 2018)]
 A team of 25+ scientists, with internationally recognized Professors,
Post Doctoral Researchers, PhD Candidates & Transportation Engineers An international reference website – information system with state-ofthe art road safety data and knowledge with:more than 3.000 visits per monthtens of tweets and social media posts annuallymore than 100 electronic newsletters since 2004

 An excellent research activity:

More than 100 Diploma Theses & 6 PhD Theses
More than 100 research projects, mostly through highly competitive
procedures
More than 600 scientific publications (> 200 in journals), widely citedworldwide
More than 100 scientific committees
International collaborations: European Commission, UN/ECE, OECD/ITF, WHO,
World Bank, EIB, CEDR, FEHRL, ERF, IRF, UITP, ETSC, WCTR, TRB, decades ofuniversities and Research Centers
George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Presentation Outline
1. Global Road Safety Statistics
2. Objective and Source of Data
3. Regional Comparisons
4. Concluding Remarks

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Global Road Safety Statistics

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Road Safety Worldwide
 1.35 million people are killed in road accidents
worldwide.
 Road accidents constitute the 8th cause of death andthe first cause of death among people aged 5-29
years old.
 Europe presents the lowest traffic fatality rate perpopulation globally.

 Africa has the worst road safety performance (up to10 times more fatalities per population compared tothe best performing European countries).
 The percentage of VRUs’ fatalities in road accidents
worldwide is especially high (54%).
George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Road Safety in the European Union In 2019, almost 22,800 fatalities in roadaccidents were recorded in the EU, global
leading performance with 51 fatalities permillion population.

 The target of halving road accident fatalities
between 2010 and 2020 is unlikely to beachieved.
 Great discrepancies in road safety performance
exist among the 27 EU countries.
 More coordinated efforts are required at alllevels in order to achieve the targets set.
George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Objective and Source of Data

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Objective
 To capture the global diversity in traffic safety
culture and behavior of road users, which
defines the mobility patterns andconsequently the respective road safety
situation.

 To that end, data derived from the second
edition of the ESRA survey on road safety
situation and culture indicated by the road
users’ behaviors, attitudes and beliefs wereused for the regions’ comparison.

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

The ESRA project ESRA (E-Survey of Road users’ Attitudes) is a joint international
initiative of research centers and road safety institutes acrossthe world The project now is in its second stage (ESRA2, 2018-2020)

 Project partners:• ESRA coordination: Vias Institute (BE)• ESRA2 core group partners: BASt (DE), bfu (CH), CTL (IT),IATSS (JA), ITS (PO), KFV (AT), NTUA (EL), PRP (PT), SWOV(NL), TIRF (CA)• 17 more supporting partners
 ESRA2 data used for the investigation of Global Diversity inTraffic Safety Culture include 20 European, 2 North American, 5African and 5 Asian-Oceanian countries.
George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Regional ComparisonsGeorge Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Perception of the relative importance of causes of road crashes


Most respondents from all regions believe thatunsafe traffic behaviors are often a cause of aroad crash involving a car.
The risk perception of the unsafe behaviors asa frequent crash cause was the highest inEurope (from 74% for fatigued driving to 81%
for drink-driving).

“How often do you think each of the following factors is the cause of a road crash involving a car? -%often/frequentlyscores 4 to 6 on a 6-point scale from 1=never to 6=[almost] always

Perception of causes of a road crash involving a car
90%
80%

80.6%

74.8% 74.8% 75.8% 74.4%

70%

74.6%
67.1%

60%

71.6% 70.8%

40%

In North America, the rates ranged from 67%(driving after taking drugs) to 75% (drinkdriving) and from 62% (using hand-heldmobile phone while driving) to 69% (drinkdriving) in Africa.

0%

68.5%

68.1%
63.2%

54.6%

50%

The lowest rates were recorded in AsiaOceania (from 51% for driving after taking
drugs to 57% for driving above the speedlimit).

68.9%

61.9%

64.3%

56.8%
51.4%

52.6% 52.8%

30%
20%

10%

Europedriving after drinking alcoholusing a hand-held mobile phone while driving

North America

Asia Oceania

driving after taking drugs (other than medication)
driving while tired

Africadriving above the speed limit

Source: C. Pires, K. Torfs, A. Areal, et al., Car drivers‘ road safety performance: A benchmark across 32 countries, IATSS Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iatssr.2020.08.002

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Acceptability of unsafe behavior in trafficPersonal acceptability of DUI, texting whiledriving, and fatigued driving was particularly
low in Europe and North America, while theacceptability of these behaviors was
significantly higher in Asia-Oceania and Africa.
Driving above the speed limits on
motorways/freeways – the behavior with thehighest rates of acceptability in all regions –was considered more acceptable in North
America and Europe than in Africa and AsiaOceania.
In all regions, driving above the speed limit
inside built-up area was considered lessacceptable than outside built-up areas.

Personal acceptability of unsafe behavior in traffic (% of acceptability – scores 4 and 5 on a 5-point scale from
1=unacceptable to 5=acceptable

Acceptability of unsafe behavior in traffic
18%
17.6%

16%

14%

14.3%

12%

12.1%

10%

11.1%

10.6%

9.5%

8%

6%

6.7%

8.3%

7.7%

7.1%

4.9%

7.1%

6.8%

6.7%

6.1%

5.0%

4%

9.3%

5.3%

5.4%

5.9% 6.2%
4.8%

4.3%

3.5%

2%
1.9%

0%

2.0%

1.4%

Europe

1.6%

1.6%

2.2%

2.0%
1.2%

North America

driving when he/she may be over the legal limit for drink and driving
driving above the speed limit inside built-up area
driving above the speed limit on motorways/freeways
reading a text message/email or check social media while driving

Asia Oceania

Africadriving 1 hour after using drugs (other than medication)
driving above the speed limit outside built-up area (not on motorways/freeways)
talking on a hand-held mobile phone while driving
driving while they're so sleepy that they have trouble keeping their eyes open

Source: C. Pires, K. Torfs, A. Areal, et al., Car drivers‘ road safety performance: A benchmark across 32 countries, IATSS Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iatssr.2020.08.002

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Self-declared behavior as a car driver








DUI of alcohol or drugs was the least
frequently declared behavior in all regions.
While in Europe a higher percentage of cardrivers declared drinking and driving (13%)
than driving after using drugs (5%), theopposite was observed in the other regions.
Speeding and mobile phone use while driving
were the most frequent self-declaredbehaviors.

Self-declared speeding rates were higher inEurope and North America than in AsiaOceania and Africa.
The highest rates of mobile phone use whiledriving correspond to Africa (54% talking and47% texting).

Self-declared behavior as a car driver (% at least once in the past 30 days – scores 2 to 5 on a 5-point scale from 1=never to5=[almost] always

Self-declared behavior as a car driver
80%70%

71.6%
67.5%

60%

65.9%

61.5%

58.9%

56.3%

50%

54.1%
51.2%
49.9%
46.9%

45.4%46.4%
42.9%

40%
30%

42.7%

38.3%
36.9%

37.7%
35.7%
28.6%
24.2%

20%
10%

13.1%

0%

24.6%

23.4%

21.9%

19.7%

17.4%18.3%

18.0%
15.5%

11.4%12.2%
5.0%

EuropeNorth America

driving when you may have been over the legal limit for drink and driving
driving above the speed limit inside built-up area
driving above the speed limit on motorways/freeways
reading a text message/email or check social media while driving

Asia Oceania

Africadriving 1 hour after using drugs (other than medication)
driving above the speed limit outside built-up area (not on motorways/freeways)
talking on a hand-held mobile phone while driving
driving while you were so sleepy that you had trouble keeping your eyes open

Source: C. Pires, K. Torfs, A. Areal, et al., Car drivers‘ road safety performance: A benchmark across 32 countries, IATSS Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iatssr.2020.08.002

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Self-declared behavior as a pedestrianThe most common pedestrian risky
behavior was crossing the road outside
the pedestrian crossing (63%-74%),
followed by reading a text message on thephone or checking social media while
walking on the street (52%-69%).
Respondents listening to music throughheadphones was the least frequent
reported behaviour.

Self-declared behavior as a pedestrian (% at least once in the past 30 days – scores 2 to 5 on a 5-point scale from 1=neverto 5=[almost] always

Self-declared behavior as a pedestrian
80%
74.1%

70%

73.3%

70.0%

60%

68.8%

63.1%
58.7%

50%

40%

49.1%
42.8%

38.2%

30%

55.0%

53.9%

51.9%

51.8%

42.6%

40.8%

33.4%

20%
10%

An interesting finding is that a
respondent's region of residence had very
little influence on the prevalence of risky
behaviours.

0%Europewalk while wearing headphones
cross road when pedestrian light is red

North America

Asia Oceania

Africaread text message/email or check social media while walking
cross road at placed other than at nearby pedestrian crossing

Source: G. Yannis, D. Nikolaou, A. Laiou, et al., Vulnerable road users: Cross-cultural perspectives on performance and attitudes, IATSS Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iatssr.2020.08.006

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Self-declared behavior as a cyclist








Cycling without using a helmet was the mostfrequently mentioned unsafe behavior. Τhis rate wassignificantly higher in Asia-Oceania (71%) and Europe(69%) than in Africa (58%) and North America (51%).
In all regions, the least frequently mentioned unsafe
behaviour was cycling under the influence of alcoholwith very similar rates (17–18%).
Cycling while wearing headphones ranged from 29%
in Europe to 53% in Africa.
The corresponding lowest and highest percentages
for the behavior ‘read a text message/email orchecked social media’ were again recorded in Europe(19%) and in Africa (34%), respectively.
Cycling adjacent to the cycling lane was reported theleast frequently by North American respondents in(36%) and most frequently by cyclists in AsiaOceania (56%).

Self-declared behavior as a cyclist (% at least once in the past 30 days – scores 2 to 5 on a 5-point scale from 1=never to5=[almost] always

Self-declared behavior as a cyclist
80%
70%

71.2%

69.2%

60%
57.7%

56.5%

50%

52.8%

51.0%

40%

41.8%

38.7%

36.2%

35.4%

30%

20%
10%

33.9%
30.0%

29.4%
18.9%

52.7%

22.4%
17.4%

16.5%

18.4%

17.4%

0%

EuropeNorth America

read text message/email or check social media while cycling
cycle while wearing headphones
cycle on road next to cycle lane

Asia Oceania

Africacycle without helmetcycle when you think you may have had too much to drink

Source: G. Yannis, D. Nikolaou, A. Laiou, et al., Vulnerable road users: Cross-cultural perspectives on performance and attitudes, IATSS Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iatssr.2020.08.006

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Self-declared behavior as a PTW riderThe most frequent unsafe behaviors reported
by PTW riders are riding faster than the speedlimits outside built-up areas (but not on motorways/freeways) and riding without a helmet.
Self-declared riding without helmet issignificantly higher in Africa (49%), North
America (46%) and Asia-Oceania (39%) than inEurope (26%).

Self-declared behavior as a PTW rider (% at least once in the past 30 days – scores 2 to 5 on a 5-point scale from 1=neverto 5=[almost] always

Self-declared behavior as a PTW rider
60%

50%

40%

41.8%

Self-declared drink driving and speeding rates
do not differ much between regions.
The results of PTW riders for the self-declared
behavior of reading a text message/email orchecking social media while riding vary from
22% in Europe to 37% in Africa.

47.7% 48.5%

39.1%

30%

37.2%
32.7%

29.1%
25.7%

20%



48.7%

46.2%

45.3%

24.4%

21.9%

19.9%

20.7%
17.8%

10%

0%

EuropeNorth America

Asia Oceania

Africaride when you may have been over the legal limit for drink-driving

ride faster than speed limit outside built-up areas (not on motorways/freeways)

ride without a helmet

read a text message/email or check social media

Source: G. Yannis, D. Nikolaou, A. Laiou, et al., Vulnerable road users: Cross-cultural perspectives on performance and attitudes, IATSS Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iatssr.2020.08.006

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Opinions on traffic rules and penalties
Most of European, North American and AsianOceanian respondents agree that traffic rules
concerning DUI of alcohol should be stricter
and are not being checked sufficiently. On thecontrary, a minority agrees that penalties are
too severe (Europe: 21%, North America: 18%,Asia-Oceania: 34%).

Opinions on traffic rules and penalties (% of “agree” – dichotomous variable: disagree/agree)

Traffic rules and penalties
Mobile phone-penalties are too severe

34.2%

20.1%
22.6%

46.0%

54.6%

Mobile phone-traffic rules are not being checked sufficiently

50.3%

Mobile phone-traffic rules should be stricter

67.0%
36.1%
29.1%
31.4%

Speeding-penalties are too severeFigures on the use of mobile phone whiledriving are quite similar to DUI-traffic rules.
In Africa, the percentage of respondents whoagree that traffic rules should be stricter andare not being checked sufficiently issignificantly lower than in other regions andthe percentage of those who agree that traffic
penalties are too severe is significantly higher.

52.5%

62.2%

76.1%
68.4%

47.0%

Speeding-traffic rules should be stricter

90.6%

47.6%

Alcohol-penalties are too severe

18.3%
20.6%

34.1%

57.4%

43.6%

54.2%

Alcohol-traffic rules are not being checked sufficiently

70.5%

78.9%
77.4%

48.9%

Alcohol-traffic rules should be stricter

93.8%

71.1%
74.5%

0%

Africa

92.0%
73.1%

45.6%

Speeding-traffic rules are not being checked sufficiently



79.7%
75.9%
79.5%

10%

Asia Oceania

20%

30%

40%

North America

Europe50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Source: C. Pires, K. Torfs, A. Areal, et al., Car drivers‘ road safety performance: A benchmark across 32 countries, IATSS Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iatssr.2020.08.002

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020100%

Support for policy measuresIn all regions, the installation of an alcoholinterlock for recidivist drivers and zerotolerance for alcohol for novice drivers weresupported by more than three quarters of therespondents.
The support rate for zero tolerance for all
drivers was higher in Asia-Oceania (81%) and inAfrica (82%) than Europe (67%) and NorthAmerica (62%).
Measures for tackling speeding (ISA andDynamic Warning Signs) received more
support in Asia-Oceania and Africa (from 79%to 84%) than in Europe and North America(from 44% to 68%).
The support for zero tolerance for using any
type of mobile phone while driving was thestrongest in Asia-Oceania (67%) and the lowestin Europe (54%) and in North America (52%).

Support for policy measures (% of support – scores 4 and 5 on a 5-point scale from 1=oppose to 5=support

Support for policy measures
90%
80%

70%

83.7%

80.4% 79.9%

78.7% 77.9%

84.9%

80.2% 80.5% 80.7% 78.7%

67.3% 67.6%

60%

83.8%
77.2%

67.1%
62.0%

60.8%

50%

81.7% 82.2%

54.0%

40%

56.7%

56.2%

51.8%
44.4%

30%
20%

10%
0%

Europeinstall an alcohol interlock for recidivist drivers
zero tolerance for alcohol for all drivers
install Dynamic Speed Warning signs in new cars

North America

Asia Oceania

Africazero tolerance for alcohol for novice driversinstall ISA in new cars
zero tolerance for using any type of mobile phone while driving for all drivers

Source: C. Pires, K. Torfs, A. Areal, et al., Car drivers‘ road safety performance: A benchmark across 32 countries, IATSS Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iatssr.2020.08.002

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Concluding Remarks

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Concluding Remarks (1/3)
Despite the high perception of risk and low
acceptability of unsafe behaviors, there is still a highpercentage of car drivers who engage in such
behaviors in all regions.

Overall the results on self-declared behavior andpersonal acceptability are consistent when comparedby region. However, there are some inconsistencies
when comparing personal acceptability and selfdeclared behaviors.

Self-declared behavior reported by VRUs should betaken into account seriously in order to identify themost frequent risky behaviors as the percentage ofVRUs’ fatalities in road accidents worldwide isespecially high (54%).

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Concluding Remarks (2/3)
 Asian-Oceanian and African road users have lower
risk perception for certain unsafe behaviors as afrequent crash cause compared to Europeans andNorth Americans.
 European car drivers who admitted to DUI ofdrugs at least once in the past 30 days wereclearly fewer (5%) than drivers in other regions(12-18%).
 Among all road users, Asians-Oceanians are those
who believe most (>90%) that traffic rules related
to mobile-phone use, speeding and alcoholshould be stricter.
George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

Concluding Remarks (3/3)
There are several differences in the attitudes andopinions of road users from different regions, which
also highlight the respective variation in their roadsafety culture.

It is crucial to understand clearly the meaning of traffic
safety culture and the importance of its development
so that different countries can cooperate better inorder to reduce road crashes and related casualties
worldwide.

The systematic implementation of integrated roadsafety policies and programs by local, regional, nationaland international Authorities is necessary for thedevelopment of traffic safety culture.

George Yannis, Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture - November 2020

“Diversity in Traffic Culture and Unsafe Behavior”

26 November 2020

Global Diversity in Traffic Safety Culture

George Yannis,Professor NTUA
Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering,
National Technical University of Athens