In this evaluation report we present the first evaluations of the centre SAFER.
Traffic accidents are major social problem, estimated by WHO to become the world's third largest health problem by 2020. On a global basis, some 1 – 1,5 million people are killed in traffic accidents annually. In Sweden alone, the total socio-economic costs of traffic accidents each year are around SEK 30 billion SEK. There is of course a great demand for solutions and socio-economic benefits to be gained from increased traffic safety.
Traffic safety in Sweden is very good compared what it is in other countries and Sweden is one of the world´s leading countries within traffic safety. The prehistory of SAFER has its roots in decades of cooperation between Chalmers and the vehicle industry. The successful collaboration, evaluated in 2005 and 2007, has been a strong inspiration for confidence in the potential of a research centre for vehicle and traffic safety.