The Zero Vision

Abstract

The road transport system is the least forgiving of all the man-machine systems in daily use in Sweden (with fatalities or long-term injuries sustained by approximately 5% of the population; in some countries, this figure is over 20% of the population). Unlike more modern man-machine systems, the road transport system is based on people complying with current standards, laws, regulations and guidelines; having a degree of common sense, being cautious and always making the right decisions. These decisions are taken on the assumption that all the information in the road transport system is clear and easy-to-understand and that the right decisions will inevitably be made on the basis of the infor-mation given. It is not entirely surprising that this kind of system does not always work. The most serious problem relating to the road transport system is that a single wrong decision or mistake may have life-or-death effects on a number of people. More mature and quality-assured man-machine systems are, on the other hand, characterized by an inbuilt tolerance of human error.