A new report from a consortium of experts reckons that applying ‘Safe System’ principles in the US could lead to dramatic reductions in vehicle related deaths and injuries. Studies of Safe System measures indicate that they lead to dramatic drops in traffic deaths - for example, a roughly 80 percent reduction in severe crashes after the installation of roundabouts, and a 97 percent reduction in high-energy, head-on collisions with median barriers.

Overall, the Safe System approach has been linked to substantial traffic fatality reductions. Countries that adopted the approach in the 1990s show large drops in deaths between 1990 and 2017 - with a 47 percent reduction in Australia, 48 percent reduction in New Zealand, 80 percent reduction in Spain, and 67 percent reduction in Sweden.

Safe Systems minimise the chances for mistakes by drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, and reduces the intensity of crashes when they do occur. This approach - which may include the use of roundabouts, separated bike lanes, median barriers, traffic calming, vertical deflection, rumble strips, and other measures - has already been applied successfully in several other countries.

Ref: Science Daily: John Hopkins University / ITE: See:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210511123716.htm