SAFER Research Day: What does it cost? - The price of traffic safety and the cost of getting it wrong
Traffic safety is often described in terms of lives saved and injuries prevented. But when real decisions are made – in municipalities, agencies, and organisations – another language tends to dominate: cost.
What does it cost?
What is it worth?
And what happens if we don’t act?
This SAFER Research Day takes a closer look at the economics of traffic safety. We will explore how costs are calculated, what is included – and what is not – and how economic reasoning shapes priorities in practice.
Across research, policy, and real-world applications, the program brings together perspectives on:
- the societal costs of crashes and injuries
- how these costs are valued and measured
- how economic arguments are used in decision-making
But also the more uncomfortable questions:
Are we investing in the right things?
Are we measuring what actually matters?
And who is expected to pay?
The ambition is not to provide all the answers, but to strengthen our ability to navigate this field – and to use economic arguments more effectively in traffic safety work.
This event is open for all interested in this topic!
PROGRAM
08:30 - 08:40
Opening – Setting the scene
Magnus Granström
Traffic safety is often framed in terms of lives saved and injuries prevented. However, in many real-world decision-making contexts, economic arguments play a decisive role in shaping priorities.
This research day takes that perspective as its starting point. It aims to build a shared understanding of how traffic safety can be understood, analysed, and communicated in economic terms – from the societal costs of crashes, to how these costs are valued, and how such knowledge can support better decisions.
Session 1 – Societal costs
What does traffic injury really cost society?
08:40-08:50
The value of a simple measure: bicycle helmets
Heba Kurdi, Transportstyrelsen
An illustrative case demonstrating how a single safety intervention can generate substantial societal value. By reducing the severity of head injuries, increased helmet use leads to significant reductions in both direct and indirect costs.
The example highlights how relatively low-cost measures can produce disproportionately large benefits, and serves as a concrete entry point into the broader discussion on cost, value, and prioritisation in traffic safety.
08:50 - 09:05
The societal cost of transport – what are we really paying for?
Anders Ljungberg, Trafikanalys (TRAFA)
This presentation provides an overview of the total societal costs associated with the transport system, including accidents, emissions, noise, and infrastructure wear. It also explores the extent to which these costs are internalised through taxes, fees, and regulations.
By highlighting discrepancies between actual costs and current pricing structures, the talk sets the stage for a broader discussion on efficiency, fairness, and prioritisation in transport policy and planning. This presentation will be given in Swedish.
09:05 - 09:20
Work-related traffic and accident costs – a hidden safety challenge
Henrik Sjöstrand, VTI
This presentation introduces an ongoing study of work-related traffic, with a focus on light-duty vehicles such as company cars. While this segment receives less attention than heavy transport, existing data indicate a potential overrepresentation in serious crashes. The presentation outlines the motivation for the study, what is currently known, and why improved knowledge on accident risk, societal costs, and organisational factors is needed to support more effective safety measures.
Session 2 – From cost to action
What does it take to invest in safety?
09:20 - 09:35
What does it cost to reach Vision Zero? Estimating the investment gap
Maria Håkansson, Guidance to Zero
What would it actually cost to implement the infrastructure measures needed to meet Sweden’s road safety targets? This presentation highlights the gap between current investment levels and what is required, and offers a concrete basis for discussion on prioritisation, funding, and decision-making. The study is funded by SAFER.
09:35 - 09:50
The cost of inaction – making organisational road safety risks visible (RIMKOT)
Sanna Eveby, Guidance to Zero & Roshni Pramanik, RISE
RIMKOT introduces a practical approach to identifying and quantifying organisational risks related to traffic safety. Rather than focusing on the cost of interventions, the project emphasises the consequences of inaction.
By linking risk assessment with economic impact, the methodology supports organisations in prioritising safety measures and integrating traffic safety into governance and strategic decision-making.
09:50 - 10:05
Industry perspective: Effects of AD/ADAS on crash severity and frequency, Jonas Ekmark, Zenseact
This talk provides an industry perspective on how ADAS/AD systems can affect crash risk across different severity levels, and how different stakeholders typically view the severity spectrum. The benefit of receiving anonymized real-world fleet data is discussed, as well as the observability for different frequencies.
By translating changes in crash risk and severity into avoided injury and crash costs, the presentation shows how better real-world evidence can strengthen cost–benefit reasoning, reduce uncertainty in economic arguments, and support more confident decisions on safety investments.
10:05 - 10:30 networking break
Session 3 – What counts?
Decision frameworks and valuation
10:30 - 10:45
What counts in transport decisions? The role of ASEK in shaping investments
Gunnar Isacsson, Trafikverket
ASEK provides the foundation for socio-economic analysis in Swedish transport planning. This presentation introduces how the framework works, what types of costs and benefits are included, and how values are assigned.
It also reflects on limitations and discusses how the choice of what is included – and what is not – influences investment decisions and policy priorities.
10:45 – 11:00
ProtAct-Us: Capturing the real economic burden of non-fatal road injuries
Werner Leitgeb, Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH, (online)
Non-fatal road injuries often drive the largest long-term societal costs, through rehabilitation needs, reduced work capacity, and lasting impacts on health and functioning. ProtAct-Us highlights what current models risk missing, and why improved assessment of long-term outcomes matters for valuation, prioritisation, and better economic arguments for traffic safety investments
11:00- 11:15
Valuing non-fatal injuries – towards a more complete picture of traffic safety costs
Sara Olofsson, IHE – Institutet för Hälso- och Sjukvårdsekonomi
This presentation introduces a new approach for valuing non-fatal injuries using methods from health economics. While fatalities are often well captured in economic models, non-fatal injuries and their long-term consequences are more difficult to assess.
By improving how these impacts are valued, the work contributes to a more complete understanding of the societal costs of traffic incidents and supports more balanced prioritisation.
11:15 - 11:30
From national models to local decisions – estimating the cost of traffic injuries at municipal level
Kristina Mattsson, Trafikverket
This presentation demonstrates how national models can be translated into practical tools for local decision-making. By combining STRADA data with socio-economic valuation methods, it becomes possible to estimate the economic impact of traffic injuries at municipal level.
The example illustrates how such analyses can support prioritisation, budgeting, and more informed planning processes.
11:30 - 11:40 Break
11:40 - 12:10 Panel discussion
Are we investing in the right things?
This panel brings together perspectives from policy, research, practice, and industry to reflect on how traffic safety is prioritised and valued in real-world decision-making.
Panelists
- Gunnar Isacsson, Trafikverket
- Sara Olofsson, IHE
- Jonas Ekmark, Zenseact
12:10 - 12:20
Closing remarks
Magnus Granström
Key reflections from the day and implications for future research, collaboration, and decision-making in traffic safety.
12:20 Networking lunch
ABOUT SAFER RESEARCH DAYS
SAFER Research Days aim to share insights, engage in meaningful discussions, present project results, identify next steps, strengthen networks, and gain new inspiration through thematic sessions, deep dives, guest speakers, and working group presentations.
Our Research Days are designed to achieve several important objectives:
- Disseminate knowledge: Share the valuable insights and discoveries generated from our diverse project portfolio.
- Engage in meaningful discussions: Participate in panel dialogues and workshops to delve into our partners’ findings, plan future steps, and emphasize practical applications in society as well as potential new projects.
- Identify next steps for projects: Explore potential next steps, paving the way for innovative proposals that drive progress and impact.
- Strengthen collaborative networks: Connect with peers, partners, and experts to exchange ideas and build stronger relationships for future cooperation.
In addition to these goals, our Research Days will feature:
- Thematic focus: Participate in sessions that focus on specific themes relevant to our research community.
- Deep dives and workshops: Engage in detailed explorations of specific topics to gain deeper understanding and insights.
- Guest speakers: Gain inspiration and knowledge from guest speakers who are leaders in their respective fields.
- Working Group presentations: Hear from various working groups about their ongoing projects and achievements.
- New inspiration: Discover new ideas and inspiration to drive your own research and projects forward.
