Risk assessment by transport organizations

This paper considers the way in which the risks of accidents are assessed by organizations concerned with the four main modes of transport: road, rail, civil aviation, and water transport. Risk assessment has two main components: risk estimation, which is the process of estimating what the risks are from an activity, and risk evaluation, which is the process of deciding or recommending what should be done about them. The paper discusses the methods and intellectual frameworks used for risk estimation and risk evaluation in each mode of transport. Conclusions are offered at the end, based on cross‐modal comparisons.