This spotlight series is dedicated to showcasing the best practices shared by ERSC members. Each month, we will highlight a different member’s innovative road safety initiative. By highlighting these success stories, we aim to create a collaborative environment where others recognise, celebrate, and adopt lessons learned and best practices.
Our October spotlight features the Transport Research Centre (CDV) from Czechia for the development of their comprehensive and impactful Zlín Region Road Safety Strategy 2022-2030.
Why the Zlín Region Road Safety initiative has been recognised as Good Practice of the Month
With its ambitious target to halve road fatalities and severe injuries by 2030 and to reduce them close to zero by 2050, the initiative embodies the EU’s aspirational targets. The Zlín Region’s focus on speed reduction and infrastructure improvements for pedestrians and cyclists directly aligns with the EU’s emphasis on enhancing safety for vulnerable road users (VRUs). The project also mirrors the forum’s commitment to multi-stakeholder collaboration by involving local authorities, police, and communities to ensure the success of the road safety strategies, making it an exemplary model for safe and sustainable urban mobility planning.
Key inspiration behind the Zlín Region Road Safety initiative
The inspiration and motivation for the Zlín Region Road Safety Strategy is to achieve Vision Zero by 2050. Recognising that traditional data collection methods were insufficient to address accident rates and severe injuries, the project identified the need to develop a strategic, evidence-based framework. This led to the creation of a robust action plan aligned with both the National Road Traffic Strategy (BESIP) 2021-2030 and the broader European Vision Zero commitment. The strategy aims to address the root causes of accidents through targeted interventions, including speed management, infrastructure enhancements, and technology integration.
Key components of the strategy
The strategy’s action plan is divided into four pillars, which guide the measures for reducing traffic accidents:
- Road Users: Focuses on education and awareness to promote safer behaviour among drivers and pedestrians.
- Infrastructure: Includes measures like improving road safety features, identifying high-risk areas, and reducing accident-prone locations.
- Vehicle and technology: Encourages the use of advanced vehicle safety technologies and modernisation of the vehicle fleet.
- Coordination: Strengthens cooperation between different entities involved in road safety, ensuring coordinated action.
A key aspect of the strategy is using the ‘KDE+ method’, an innovative clustering tool for analysing and addressing traffic accident hotspots. This method helps prioritise areas for safety inspections and interventions.
Outcomes of the strategy
- The Zlín Region now has its first strategic document that addresses the multifaceted issue of traffic safety in the region. It has improved their ability to identify and address traffic risks systematically rather than relying solely on descriptive statistics.
- The KDE+ clustering tool has enabled more precise identification of traffic accident hotspots. By using geospatial data, the region can focus interventions where they have the most significant impact, optimising the use of resources.
The strategy has improved coordination among stakeholders, including the Zlín Region government, local municipalities, road administrators, the Czech Police, and the National Road Traffic Strategy (BESIP) coordinator.
For more information
Click here to read the full Good Practice by the Transport Research Centre and discover the activities and outcomes of the project in more detail.
If you are interested in developing a similar strategy in your local authority or Member State, you can contact the project lead, Jan Elgner, at jan.elgner@cdv.cz. Jan can provide further information or advice on the project, as necessary.
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