Innovation and traffic safety: Analysis of four Norwegian county authorities after the regional reform

This study investigates relationships between road safety innovations, innovation culture, and safety culture in four Norwegian county authorities three years after a comprehensive structural reform, (the“Regional reform”). Following the reform, the county authorities had to establish new organisations, routines, and systems. The qualitative results show that the respondents have gained new perspectives on road safety, as a result of being co-organised with new professional groups. The results also show that new methods and forms of collaboration in road safety work have been implemented. The survey results show significant differences between the county authorities' scores on an index for traffic safety innovations. County authorities’ scores on this index is predicted by the county authorities' innovation culture, which in turn is predicted by safety culture. Results indicate that innovation culture should be understood as an aspect of a learning safety culture. The study shows significant differences between county authorities with respect to how demanding the organizational changes related to the regional reform have been. These results can also be useful for change processes in other organisations.