Toward Improved Traffic Safety: Road Use Perception and Behavior in Estonia

Rapid increases in motorization have raised concerns about accidents and fatalities internationally. Even nations that are experiencing declining numbers of fatalities, such as Estonia, have made reducing fatalities a major public policy goal. Traffic fatalities declined from 491 in 1991 to 204 in 2000 in Estonia. The federal government is intent on another 50% decrease by 2010. Two steps are necessary to achieve this decrease: understanding of the perceptions of road use behavior and field observations of driving and pedestrian practices. In May and June 2001, 655 subjects were surveyed to assess their perceptions of road use behavior. Drunken driving, lack of seat-belt use in the rear seat, and speeding on rural roads were all perceived to be problems. Generational differences accounted for the greatest differences in perception. The young gave higher scores to most road use activities, suggesting that better driver education may be needed. The number of fatalities and field observation indicate that treatment of pedestrians is an area in need of attention, especially because of the perception that it is not a major problem. Pedestrians accounted for 39% of motor-vehicle-related fatalities in Estonia in 2000. In field observations, 70% of drivers were observed to be in violation of the law requiring them to yield to pedestrians. Pedestrians themselves are not without blame; in field observations, 26% of pedestrians were seen to be in violation at signalized crossings. Finally, speeding continues to be a perceived and observed problem.