The methodology and initial findings for the Road Accident In Depth Studies (RAIDS) Programme: RAIDS Phase 1 Report

The aim of the RAIDS Phase 1 programme, commissioned by the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT), was to collect detailed evidence on the causes and consequences of road collisions in order to improve road safety outcomes. Over 1,250 in-depth accident investigations were collected by Loughborough University and TRL between 2013 and 2015. It was recognised that only through a detailed knowledge of the complex causal factors of these crashes and their subsequent injuries will effective policies and countermeasures be developed and, ultimately, successfully applied to improve road transport safety. This report describes the data collection methodology and provides examples of some potential research applications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all the RAIDS research opportunities; rather it is designed to offer an insight into the richness and diversity of the dataset.