Increasing Readiness to Grow Traffic Safety Culture and Adopt the Safe System Approach: A Story of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission

Otto, Jay; Ward, Nic; Finley, Kari; Baldwin, Shelly T.; Alonzo, Wade · 2022 · Crossref

DOI: 10.3389/ffutr.2022.964630

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Summary

This paper, titled "Traffic Safety Culture Primer," addresses the persistent challenge of reducing motor vehicle crash fatalities and serious injuries to zero. The authors argue that traditional traffic safety strategies—relying primarily on enforcement, education, emergency medical services, and engineering—are insufficient to achieve this goal. Instead, the paper posits that achieving zero fatalities requires a fundamental shift in "traffic safety culture," defined as the shared belief system of a group that influences road user behaviors and stakeholder actions. The motivation stems from the observation that driver behavior is the critical reason for 94% of crashes, and these deliberate behaviors are driven by underlying beliefs shaped by social environments. The document outlines a theoretical framework and a practical process for cultivating this culture. It establishes that human behavior is influenced by beliefs, which are in turn shaped by the social environment, including family, schools, workplaces, and community groups. The authors propose that traffic safety culture is not an abstract concept but a measurable, data-driven system involving values, assumptions, and perceptions. To operationalize this, the paper presents a seven-step process for growing traffic safety culture: (1) Plan and Advocate by recruiting stakeholders; (2) Assess local data and existing strategies; (3) Prioritize efforts based on consequences and changeability; (4) Identify and adapt strategies; (5) Pilot and refine interventions; (6) Implement strategies across the community while aligning laws and policies; and (7) Evaluate adoption and safety outcomes. This approach emphasizes leveraging positive existing beliefs and engaging multiple layers of the social environment to create sustainable behavioral change. Key findings and examples illustrate the effectiveness of this cultural lens. The paper highlights the historical reduction in impaired driving, noting that the percentage of weekend nighttime drivers positive for alcohol dropped from 36% in 1973 to 8% in 2013–2014, demonstrating how shifting shared beliefs can alter behavior. It contrasts traditional seat belt campaigns, which often see usage drop when enforcement ends, with a cultural approach that involves families, schools, and workplaces establishing consistent rules and norms. The authors assert that focusing on the entire belief system rather than single factors like fear of punishment leads to more effective and sustained safety improvements. The significance of this work lies in its redefinition of traffic safety from a technical or enforcement issue to a public health and cultural one. By integrating traffic safety culture into strategic planning, such as Strategic Highway Safety Plans, stakeholders can create conditions where safe behaviors are expected and supported across all social groups. The paper concludes that adopting the Safe System Approach requires this cultural readiness, where all stakeholders share responsibility for safety. This framework provides a structured, evidence-based method for communities and organizations to move beyond temporary interventions toward lasting cultural change, ultimately supporting the vision of zero traffic fatalities.

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• traffic safety culture