FERSI
Forum of European Road Safety Research Institutes
Forum of European Road Safety Research Institutes
President, secretariat : Dr. Alexander Kaba, KfV
Former presidents: David Lynam, TRL, M. Koornstra, SWOV, G. Dobias, INRETS.
provide a forum for developping collaborative research projects aimed at producing solutions to common road safety problems within European countries;
provide support to the European Commission in defining research needs within Europe;
encourage the exchange of good practice and research knowledge between countries and
encourage closer co-operation and, where appropriate, the exchange of researchers between countries.
European countries have a national road safety research programme, usually led by the national Ministry of Transport. In most countries, there is a single organisation which provides the primary focus for the execution and implementation of this programme.
The Forum of European Road Safety Research Institutes (FERSI) was created in 1991 to bring together these national research organisations to provide a common focus for road safety research at the European level.
The policies of FERSI are decided by a board, comprising the Directors of each of the national research institutes. An Executive Group is responsible for carrying out these policies, and for providing the Board with relevant advice on current research issues that affect the aims and objectives of FERSI.
Secretariat services are shared with the Forum of national European Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL).
FERSI believes that a European road safety research programme should:
address all keys areas for casualty reduction - education, enforcement and both road and vehicule engineering
seek both short and long term solutions
seek answers which embrace the differences between European countries in both their problems and the potential effectiveness and acceptability of the solutions
implement common standards where appropriate, but, more generally, identify and encourage the transfer of good practice between countries to maximise the scope for reducing road casualties throughout Europe
take account of the key role of road user behaviour in developping and implementing solutions
obtain solutions which command broad support from public bodies, transport industry and road users alike
In order to promote its aims and objectives, FERSI and its members:
initiate and carry out research projects for the European Commission and other international organisations, eg the SARTRE and DUMAS projects
provide advice on road safety research matters to national governments and European institutions
promote and support relevant Conferences, Seminars and Workshops
encourage the exchange of researchers between European road safety institutes
establish and maintain strong links with national and international clients for road safety research
establish and maintain close liaison with other world-wide bodies with a responsibility for road safety research and implementation
TRL, INRETS, BASt, BFU/BPA/UPI/, KfV, IBSR/BIVV, CDV, RfT,
LNEC, TOI, VTI, KTI, VTT...