Road wars: Contesting paradigms of road safety, public space and well-being

Kimberlee, Richard

Abstract

In the UK pedestrian killed and seriously injured rates have steadily declined since the introduction of local road safety departments four decades ago. The road safety paradigm based on local scientific analysis of risk reduction, engineering and the separation of people from public space and traffic appears to have enhanced people’s safety. In recent times the limitations of this approach has become increasingly challenged from: community responses to traffic encroachment; innovative and alternative designs to public space usage; social movement reaction and the problems posed by environmental degradation. These innovative approaches have highlighted the limits of the road safety paradigm for promoting well-being. This article suggests that rather than facing a:War on the Motorist increasingly different voices are contesting the spaces we use for traversing our cities. It suggests that the challenge to understanding and promoting well-being in public space may require road safety advocates to embrace these challenging resistancies and alternative insights in how to use road space.

• Acceptance Date: May 4, 2014
• Publication Date: May 21, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jan 19, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: May 21, 2016
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 113-126
• Series Title: Public Engagement and Social Science
• Book Title: Public Engagement and Social Science
• ISBN: 9781447306863
• Keywords: shared space, road safety, cycling, critical mass, well-being, wellbeing, KSI, killed or seriously injured, NRSI
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/817479
• Publisher URL: http://www.policypress.co.uk/display.asp?K=9781447306863&sf1=keyword&st1=public+engagement+and+social+science&m=1&dc=15
• Contract Date: May 21, 2016