SINGLE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION IN ROAD TRAFFIC

This paper discusses the Dutch Transportation Safety Board and its activities in transportation safety. It emphasizes the Transportation Safety Board's efforts in the areas of road traffic safety. Characteristics of road traffic safety include: a heterogeneous population of drivers and motor vehicles; a deviant risk awareness; a majority of high probability, low consequence accidents; a limited extent of safety management systems; and limited learning through feedback. Single traffic accident investigation is presented as a possible aid in reducing traffic accidents. It may uncover underlying relationships and multiple causes. It may also halt fatalistic acceptance of current levels of injuries and fatalities. Victim organizations, such as the Dutch Association of Road Victims in The Netherlands, are also useful. These organizations have confronted the authorities and pushed for reforms in police investigation, emergency care, family care and judicial procedures.