Randomised experimentation in evaluating transport and transport safety interventions

Abstract

There have been demands for higher methodological standards in transport and transport safety research, inspired by evidence-based medicine and social welfare research. The term 'evidence-based' has a highly specific meaning. It refers to research conducted using randomised treatment and control groups, and the systematic reviewing of such research using meta-analysis. It is not merely a general expression of hope that there will be some influence of research on policy development. This paper discusses the arguments for and against rigorous methodology. For some issues, a rigorous methodology will be impracticable, or even undesirable in principle. But for others, randomisation (and other precautions) ought to receive more consideration than at present. If that happens, planning the monitoring of a road safety intervention will take longer and consume more resources. One of the main examples used is novice driver education, and five papers on this that were presented at a recent conference are summarised. These papers disagree strongly about whether novice driver education is worthwhile, and about the research methods that are appropriate for tackling the question.