Safety in tran­sportati­on

A chief priority for the IRCA is ensuring that roads, and their surrounding environments, are designed and maintained in a way that maximizes safety, so that human error in traffic is less likely to result in serious accidents. This involves careful planning, ongoing monitoring, and the implementation of safety features that reduce risk and protect all road users, including drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring that all modes of transport meet stringent quality and safety standards. This includes the proper separation of pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic on roads and paths, as well as the incorporation of safety measures such as clear signage, road markings, barriers, and appropriate lighting. By addressing the different needs of each type of road user, the IRCA seeks to create an environment where movement is safer and more predictable for everyone.

All IRCA projects are governed by rigorous traffic safety management protocols. This system centers around adherence to a carefully determined methodology in which traffic safety is consistently ranked as a top priority. The methodology is applied not only when preparing and constructing new roads, but also when assessing roads that have not yet been opened to traffic. Through this systematic approach, potential risks can be identified and mitigated in advance, ensuring that new and existing infrastructure supports safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all.

Traffic velocity is a critical risk factor when evaluating overall traffic safety. High speeds not only increase the likelihood of accidents occurring, but they also strongly influence the severity of their consequences. In general, the greater the velocity at the time of an accident, the more severe the injuries and damage tend to be, making speed management a central concern in reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

As part of the current government’s traffic safety plan, automatic speeding surveillance plays a key role in addressing this risk. The IRCA is responsible for the technical implementation and maintenance of the automated speed monitoring systems, ensuring that they function reliably and accurately. Meanwhile, the National Police Commissioner oversees the legal and administrative aspects, including the issuance of tickets and the collection of speeding fines. This clear division of responsibilities allows the system to operate efficiently, combining technical precision with effective law enforcement, all aimed at promoting safer road conditions for all users.

By integrating automatic speed control with broader traffic safety initiatives, the IRCA and its partners aim to reduce accident rates, minimize the severity of collisions, and create a safer transportation environment across the country.

The IRCA is provided with traffic collision information from the Icelandic Transport Authority, which documents accidents through police reports and data from the private company Aðstoð og öryggi ehf. The IRCA connects these data with information on traffic density on the highway system, and calculates accidents rates — i.e. rate of accidents per million km driven — from there.

The links below provide information (in Icelandic) on accident numbers on the highway system, i.e. on main, connective and country roads.