In brief VTI Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute is an independent and internationally prominent research institute within the transport sector organised under the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications.. Operating principle VTI is a broad-based and customer-oriented centre for internationally prestigious research and development and advanced analytical work in the transport sector. VTI continuously improves knowledge of the transport sector in order to secure an effective and in the long term sustainable provision of transport services. 1
In brief Founded 1923 VTI new institute 1971 Moved to Linköping 1975 ISO 9001 certified 1998 Branch offices in Borlänge, Stockholm and Gothenburg 1998-2004 ISO 14001 certified 2011 Expertise 195 employees 42% females 28% Research support 58% Researchers 14% Administrative support 62% of R&D staff has a Ph.D. 2
Turnover 2010 Commission revenues MSEK 144 Grant MSEK 40 Total MSEK 184 (20,5 million euros) Operating income 2010 Turnover MSEK 184 Public clients 58% Private clients 9% EC funding and international clients 10% Grant 23% 3
Clients Approximately 200 clients per year Trafikverket the Swedish Transport Administration Vinnova governmental agency for research funding EC funding Local authorities and regions Other national authorities, e.g. Police and SIDA - Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency The automotive industry Contractors Insurance companies Tyre manufacturers Manufacturers of safety barriers and posts for road signs Manufacturers of child seats International networks for cooperation ECTRI FEHRL FERSI GRSP ETSC OECD PIARC European Conference of Transport Research Institutes Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories Forum of European Road Safety Research Institutes Global Road Safety Partnership European Transport Safety Council JTRC, IRTAD, ITRD World Road Congress VTI is also a frequent participant in European cooperative projects, particularly in the European Commission Framework Programs 4
Services Research and development Measurement and testing Consultancy services Courses, seminars and conferences Library and information services Research areas Pavement technology Infrastructure maintenance Vehicle technology People in the transport system Traffic safety Traffic analysis Environment Regional and urban transport planning and decision processes Transport systems Transport economics 5
Technical resources Crash test track Tyre testing facilities Laboratories for material testing Road simulator HVS Driving simulator Road surface monitoring RST, friction Models for traffic simulation, vehicle costs, energy use, exhaust emissions VTI Driving Simulators Simulator II och III Simulator IV in Göteborg The trainer simulator 6
Crash test laboratory Child restraint systems Crash against tree at 90 km/h Elk (Moose) Dummy 340 kg Traffic safety development 1400 Traffic fatalities Millions of vehicle km 90000 1200 80000 70000 1000 60000 800 50000 600 40000 400 30000 20000 200 10000 0 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 7
Traffic safety trend 1400 No of traffic fatalities 140 1200 120 1000 100 800 80 600 60 400 40 200 Death rate 20 0 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 per 1000 million vehicle km Some traffic safety measures 1950s Focusing on road safety issues begins 1966 Compulsory vehicle inspection 1967 Switching to right-hand traffic in Sweden 1971 Speed limits introduced 1975 Compulsory usage of seat belt in the front seat 1975 Mandatory motorcycle helmet usage 1976 Specific motorcycle driving license 1986 Compulsory usage of seat belt in the backseat for adults 1988 Mandatory seat belt or child restraint system for children in the rear seat 1990 Blood alcohol content level lowered from 0,05 to 0,02 percentage 8
Some traffic safety measures 1995 Cable barriers at medians on motorways 1997 Vision Zero and a parlamentary policy target to reduce road fatalities to at the most 270 by the year 2007 1998 Cable barriers at roadsides 1998 2+1 roads and median with a cable barrier, often wire guardrails 1999 Mandatory use of winter tyres 2004 Safety belts in new buses 2005 Mandatory use of bicycle helmets for children 2006 Higher fines for traffic offences 2006 Automatic traffic safety control with speed cameras 2008 Milled rumbled strips at roadside and centre line 9