Orla Fahey

In London, the growing desire by the London Mayor to encourage citizens to walk and cycle is based on national and international targets to improve road safety for vulnerable road users, which the World Health Organisation identify as a growing serious global problem.  The UK government have endorsed international goals to use a Vision Zero approach to tackle the number of killed and seriously injured and monitor these targets using the national data-set of police accident reports: Stats19 data.  

A practice based research study which uses a mix of Grounded Theory methods to conduct a study in London on how design can improve the safety of these vulnerable users.  Initially enquiring into how safety is defined and what ‘design’ means in terms of road safety and who is responsible for these designs was the starting point of the enquiry. 

This research explores safety from the perspective of the vulnerable user.  Looking at what data is excluded from the national reports, despite it being available, the research found that the incentive for professions involved in safety is a focus on quantifiable results.  A single case study in London provides an example of the two different perspectives - of the safety professionals providing the mandatory infrastructure; and how a shared space is actually used and experienced by users.  Part of the practice has involved the researcher working with safety experts and advocate groups in London to identify ways of improving users safety.