Addressing the conditions of traffic hazard

Vision Zero has been around for many years, but how to apply it continues to be a challenge in many places. A change in the paradigm of how we think about traffic danger is needed.  Despite the perspective of Vision Zero existing for several decades now, and the public health concept of safe systems existing for even longer, inertia within practice and research means that many continue to apply methods and conceptualizations that are linked to protecting (high/fast) mobility rather than safety.

Developing techniques to systematically evaluate the potential to harm are needed along with predicting fatal collisions. The potential to harm can limit people’s travel options, limiting the likelihood of travelling on foot or by bicycle, which then limit access to public transport. Without addressing this issue, a shift to sustainable transport will be greatly limited.

As described many decades ago by Haddon (1970) traffic hazard is the potential harm through the transmission of kinetic energy.

This special issue welcomes research that focuses on: the source of traffic hazard; how traffic hazard impacts society and sustainable objectives; how to minimize harm from traffic hazard; the application of traffic hazard in policy and practice; how different measures of exposure can be used in to better inform policy and practice.

List of topic areas

  • Traffic hazard
  • Traffic danger
  • Community severance
  • Independent travel/autonomy
  • Street design
  • Urban design

Submissions Information

Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available at: ScholarOne Manuscripts

Author guidelines must be strictly followed. Please see: https://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/jtas

Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to “Please select the issue you are submitting to”.

Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else while under review for this journal.

Key deadlines

Opening date for manuscripts submissions: 01/12/2025

Closing date for manuscripts submission: 31/05/2026