Perceived risk and risk compensation in the transport system. A survey of current knowledge.

The report contains a survey of current knowledge concerning insecurity (perceived lack of safety) and risk compensation in the transport system. Insecurity refers to the perceived risk of accident and the fear of accidents; risk compensation denotes behavioural adaptations induced by changes in perceived risk and safety. A substantial proportion of the population feel insecure in the transport system, but this feeling is not related to the risk of accidents only. Risk compensation has been found to occur in road traffic, but it is likely that similar phenomena exist in all modes of transport. Topics in need of more research are identified.