Safe System, Vision Zero, and Sustainable Safety: a scoping review

In this study, we provide a scoping review of the research literature on Vision Zero, Safe System and Sustainable Safety. Using a simplified PRISMA approach, we identify 129 studies, describing what year and where the studies are from, which topics the studies are about, and how the terms are used. Using a thematic analysis of the abstracts of the 129 studies, we identify seven main study topics in the studies. The most prevalent study topics are: 1) Case study/Implementation study, 2) Study on principles, 3) Study on practical/strategic use, 4) Study on "readiness", or factors that inhibit or promote implementation, 5) Vulnerable road users, inequality and social justice, 6) Results of measures and potential, and 7) Future challenges and solutions. We describe knowledge status, knowledge gaps and questions for future research within each study topic. The studies find that entities that have formally implemented the Safe System have relatively low levels of implementation, due to implementation barriers and operationalization challenges. The studies find that it is not necessarily clearly defined what Vision Zero/Safe System is in practice, and that the concept must be interpreted and translated by those who will implement it. Thus, current road safety policies do not fully realise the potential improvements that Safe System can provide, because the principles are not followed to a sufficient extent. A Norwegian study estimate that the number of road fatalities in Norway can be reduced by 50%–70% by following the Safe System principles fully and systematically. Thus, a major challenge, also in mature Safe System contexts, is to facilitate actual Safe System implementation, by mapping barriers/facilitators and Safe System readiness, and defining actions to realise the full potential of Safe System implementation.